Child direct air traffic at JFK
Adapted for BBC, Words in the News, 5 March, 2010
Reporter: James Gordon
US officials are investigating how a child was apparently allowed to direct planes at JFK airport. Pilots heard the voice of a surprisingly young boy instructin them from air traffic control.
JFK Airport in new York is one of the largest airports in the country, handling nearly a thousand take-offs and landings a day. But just after 8pm on the 16th of February, there was somebody else in the control tower directing air traffic and giving instructions to pilots.
Recording from air traffic control:
Boy: JetBlue 171 clear to take off.
Pilot: Clear for take off JetBlue 171.
The boy was speaking to an airbus A320 heading for Sacramento. The child’s father, who us a certified controller, brought his son to work and then put him to work as well.
Recording from air traffic control:
Boy: JetBlue 171 contact departure.
Pilot: Over to departure JetBlue 171. Awesome job.
The young boy continued directing pilots for several take-offs, pilots appearing to be more amused than worried.
The federal Aviation Administration, which regulates Americas’ airports, hasn’t released the names of the controllers involved, as well as his supervisor. Both have been relieved of their duties.
Some are saying the incident is being blown out of proportion since the youngster was repeating standard, routine directions to pilots with the adults, presumably, alongside him. It’s been revealed the controller in question brought his daughter in the following evening.
The FAA has released a statement saying, “This lapse in judgment not only violated the FAA’s own policies but common sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable.”
Part A: Write TRUE or FALSE.
1. A little girl was in the control tower in the evening of 16th February. _______
2. The child was talking to the pilot of an airbus heading for New York. ______
3. The child’s father was not a certified controller. __________
4. The child directed only one pilot for take-off. ________
5. Pilots who heard the boy giving instructions were alarmed. _________
6. The FAA regulates America’s airports. ________
7. The pilot and supervisor were suspended from work . ________
8. The controller had his son and his daughter with him at work the next evening. _______
Part B: Matching.
Match each of the following sentences with the words given below.
A. the control tower B. pilots C. an Airbus A320 D. amused
E. his supervisor F. relieved of their duties
G. is being blown out of proportion
H. lapse in judgment I. violated J. distractions
1. Things that stop people from paying attention and concentrating on what they should be doing.
___________________________________________________________________
2. Broke the rules or guidelines.
___________________________________________________________________
3. Unexpectedly bad decisions.
__________________________________________________________________
4. Had their jobs taken away, are no longer allowed to work
___________________________________________________________________
5. The high building in an airport from where instructions are given to help people takeoff and land airplanes safely.
__________________________ _________________________________________
6. People who fly airplanes.
___________________________________________________________________
7. A type of airplane.
____________________________________________________________________
8. Thought of something funny.
____________________________________________________________________
9. His manager, the person who makes sure that he does his job properly, gets training to do it and that his behavior at work is acceptable. ____________________________________________________________________
10. Is being made to seem much more serious than it actually is. ____________________________________________________________________
ANSWERS
Part A
1. false 2. false 3. false 4. false 5. false 5. true 7. true 8. true.
Part B
1. distractions 2. violated 3. lapse in judgment 4. relieved of their duties
5. the control tower 6. pilots 7. an Airbus A320 8. amused
9. his supervisor 10. is being blown out of proportion.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Gold For Canada as Olympics End, BBC, Words In The News
Gold for Canada as Olympics End
Adapted from BBC, Words in the News, 1 March 2010.
Reporter: Ian Gunn
The flame was put out and the organizers were praised as the Olympic games in Vancouver came to a close. But the real excitement was provided by Canada’s men’s ice-hockey team winning the final gold medal of the games.
The ceremony was marked by Canadians making gentle fun of themselves. In a nod to a glitch in the opening ceremony, part of the Olympic cauldron which couldn’t be lit two weeks ago was set alight to kick off the closing. The ceremony also featured a comic parade of Canadian stereotypes including Mounties, canoes and moose-antler hats for members of the audience.
In his closing remarks IOC ( International Olympics Committee) President Jacques Rogge called the games ‘excellent’ and ‘very friendly’ and said the Canadian organizers had done an outstanding job.
The head of Vancouver’s organizing committee received a deafening cheer from the 60,000 spectators as he acknowledged Canada’s ice-hockey team that won the final gold medal of the games shortly before the ceremony. John Furlong also said the games had lifted the Canadian mood in a way no one could have anticipated.
The Canadian officials handed the Olympic flag to organizers of the next Winter Olympics in Sochi who invited the world to Russia in 2014 with simultaneous performances inside the Canadian stadium and from Sochi itself.
Part A: Write TRUE or FALSE
1. During the ceremony, the Canadians were laughing and smiling at things about themselves. __________________
2. There was a small problem in the opening ceremony . ___________________
3. There was a parade of Canadian police officers. ____________
4. Jacques Rogge was the President of Canada. __________
5. Head of Vancouver’s organizing committee received a cold welcome from the spectators. _____________
6. The ice-hockey team won a silver medal. ______________
7. The audience wore moose-antler hats. ___________
8. The next winter games will be held in Sochi. __________
9. Sochi is in Russia. _____________
10. The next winter Olympics is in five years’ time. _________
Part B: Vocabulary Matching
Match the sentences with the words given below.
A. making gentle fun of themselves B. a nod to
C. a glitch in D. cauldron
E. to kick off F. Mounties
G. moose-antler hats H. a deafening cheer
I. lifted the Canadian mood J. anticipated
1. an acknowledgment of, in recognition of.
__________________________________________________________
2. smiling or laughing at things about themselves that others find funny.
__________________________________________________________
3. a small problem or fault.
__________________________________________________________
4. to start, to begin
_________________________________________________________
5. hats that have flat horns on them like those of a large type of deer found in
North America.
_________________________________________________________
6. Canadian police officers who are well known for their colourful uniforms and their use of horses rather than motor vehicles.
_________________________________________________________
7. expected, predicted
________________________________________________________
8. an extremely loud sound made by a crowd of people to show that they are very pleased.
________________________________________________________
9. made the Canadians feel happier
_______________________________________________________
10. very large, round metal pot that is used on fires, here, to hold the Olympic flame.
_______________________________________________________
ANSWERS
Part A
1. true 2. true 3. true 4. false 5. false 6. false 7. true 8. true 9. true 10. false
Part B
1. a nod 2. making gentle fun of themselves 3. a glitch in 4. to kick off 5. moose-antler hats 6. Mounties 7. anticipated 8. a defeaning cher 9. lifted the Canadian mood 10. cauldron
Adapted from BBC, Words in the News, 1 March 2010.
Reporter: Ian Gunn
The flame was put out and the organizers were praised as the Olympic games in Vancouver came to a close. But the real excitement was provided by Canada’s men’s ice-hockey team winning the final gold medal of the games.
The ceremony was marked by Canadians making gentle fun of themselves. In a nod to a glitch in the opening ceremony, part of the Olympic cauldron which couldn’t be lit two weeks ago was set alight to kick off the closing. The ceremony also featured a comic parade of Canadian stereotypes including Mounties, canoes and moose-antler hats for members of the audience.
In his closing remarks IOC ( International Olympics Committee) President Jacques Rogge called the games ‘excellent’ and ‘very friendly’ and said the Canadian organizers had done an outstanding job.
The head of Vancouver’s organizing committee received a deafening cheer from the 60,000 spectators as he acknowledged Canada’s ice-hockey team that won the final gold medal of the games shortly before the ceremony. John Furlong also said the games had lifted the Canadian mood in a way no one could have anticipated.
The Canadian officials handed the Olympic flag to organizers of the next Winter Olympics in Sochi who invited the world to Russia in 2014 with simultaneous performances inside the Canadian stadium and from Sochi itself.
Part A: Write TRUE or FALSE
1. During the ceremony, the Canadians were laughing and smiling at things about themselves. __________________
2. There was a small problem in the opening ceremony . ___________________
3. There was a parade of Canadian police officers. ____________
4. Jacques Rogge was the President of Canada. __________
5. Head of Vancouver’s organizing committee received a cold welcome from the spectators. _____________
6. The ice-hockey team won a silver medal. ______________
7. The audience wore moose-antler hats. ___________
8. The next winter games will be held in Sochi. __________
9. Sochi is in Russia. _____________
10. The next winter Olympics is in five years’ time. _________
Part B: Vocabulary Matching
Match the sentences with the words given below.
A. making gentle fun of themselves B. a nod to
C. a glitch in D. cauldron
E. to kick off F. Mounties
G. moose-antler hats H. a deafening cheer
I. lifted the Canadian mood J. anticipated
1. an acknowledgment of, in recognition of.
__________________________________________________________
2. smiling or laughing at things about themselves that others find funny.
__________________________________________________________
3. a small problem or fault.
__________________________________________________________
4. to start, to begin
_________________________________________________________
5. hats that have flat horns on them like those of a large type of deer found in
North America.
_________________________________________________________
6. Canadian police officers who are well known for their colourful uniforms and their use of horses rather than motor vehicles.
_________________________________________________________
7. expected, predicted
________________________________________________________
8. an extremely loud sound made by a crowd of people to show that they are very pleased.
________________________________________________________
9. made the Canadians feel happier
_______________________________________________________
10. very large, round metal pot that is used on fires, here, to hold the Olympic flame.
_______________________________________________________
ANSWERS
Part A
1. true 2. true 3. true 4. false 5. false 6. false 7. true 8. true 9. true 10. false
Part B
1. a nod 2. making gentle fun of themselves 3. a glitch in 4. to kick off 5. moose-antler hats 6. Mounties 7. anticipated 8. a defeaning cher 9. lifted the Canadian mood 10. cauldron
Sunday, October 25, 2009
CLOZE: Powerful Quake Hits Indonesia , Manhole Blast, Six Hurt.
Straits Times, Oct 24, 2009
Powerful quake hits Indonesia
JAKARTA - A 1. ____________ earthquake 2. __________ deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, causing panic and sending residents running 3. ____________out of their homes, officials and witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or 4. ___________.
The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles (138 kilometres) was too far below the earth's surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Saturday's 5. __________ came as Indonesia is still recovering from a 6. _____________ earthquake last month that killed 7. ___________ than 1,000 8. _____________ on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says Saturday's quake - the second strong temblor in two days - was 8. _____________225 miles (365 kilometres) south-east of Ambon in the Maluku islands 9. __________ the Banda Sea.
The shaking was 10. __________ and people 11. ____________ to higher ground fearing a 12. __________, said Mr Ian Kotualubun, an official 13. ____________ Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency 14. ___________ Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) east 15. ____________ the capital, Jakarta. – AP
Answers
1. powerful 2. struck 3. out 4. injuries 5. quake 6. devastating 7. more
8. located 9. in 10. strong 11. ran 12. tsunami 13. with
14. in 15. of
Oct 22, 2009, Straits Times
Manhole blast, six hurt
The workers were there to seal several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with cement. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
SIX workers who 1. _________________(be+just +climb) out of a manhole in MacPherson Road 2. ________________(be+bad+ burn) on Wednesday afternoon, after an underground explosion which 3. ____________(cause) the authorities to 4. _____________(closed) the road even past midnight.
Two of the workers are now unconscious and on ventilator support at Singapore General Hospital's intensive care unit. One of them suffered 30 per cent burns to his body, while the other 5. _________(has) 10 per cent burns.
The other four men 6. ___________(war) in the hospital's burns unit, with burns 7. _____________(range) from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. The burns 8. __________(mainly) mainly to their face and upper limbs.
All six were Thai nationals, aged between 27 and 50, who 9. ___________(start) work at the site - near the junction of MacPherson and Aljunied roads - at about 10am on Wednesday.
The workers 10. __________(be) there 11. ___________(seal) several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with a cement compound.
The cause of the explosion is still being investigated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Manpower Ministry (MOM), but it is understood that the pipes 12. _________________(damage) in the incident.
Answers
1. had just climbed 2. were badly burnt 3. caused 4. close 5. had
6. were warded 7. ranging 8. were mainly 9. started 10. were
11. to seal/ sealing 12. were not damaged
Powerful quake hits Indonesia
JAKARTA - A 1. ____________ earthquake 2. __________ deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, causing panic and sending residents running 3. ____________out of their homes, officials and witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or 4. ___________.
The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles (138 kilometres) was too far below the earth's surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Saturday's 5. __________ came as Indonesia is still recovering from a 6. _____________ earthquake last month that killed 7. ___________ than 1,000 8. _____________ on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says Saturday's quake - the second strong temblor in two days - was 8. _____________225 miles (365 kilometres) south-east of Ambon in the Maluku islands 9. __________ the Banda Sea.
The shaking was 10. __________ and people 11. ____________ to higher ground fearing a 12. __________, said Mr Ian Kotualubun, an official 13. ____________ Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency 14. ___________ Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) east 15. ____________ the capital, Jakarta. – AP
Answers
1. powerful 2. struck 3. out 4. injuries 5. quake 6. devastating 7. more
8. located 9. in 10. strong 11. ran 12. tsunami 13. with
14. in 15. of
Oct 22, 2009, Straits Times
Manhole blast, six hurt
The workers were there to seal several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with cement. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
SIX workers who 1. _________________(be+just +climb) out of a manhole in MacPherson Road 2. ________________(be+bad+ burn) on Wednesday afternoon, after an underground explosion which 3. ____________(cause) the authorities to 4. _____________(closed) the road even past midnight.
Two of the workers are now unconscious and on ventilator support at Singapore General Hospital's intensive care unit. One of them suffered 30 per cent burns to his body, while the other 5. _________(has) 10 per cent burns.
The other four men 6. ___________(war) in the hospital's burns unit, with burns 7. _____________(range) from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. The burns 8. __________(mainly) mainly to their face and upper limbs.
All six were Thai nationals, aged between 27 and 50, who 9. ___________(start) work at the site - near the junction of MacPherson and Aljunied roads - at about 10am on Wednesday.
The workers 10. __________(be) there 11. ___________(seal) several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with a cement compound.
The cause of the explosion is still being investigated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Manpower Ministry (MOM), but it is understood that the pipes 12. _________________(damage) in the incident.
Answers
1. had just climbed 2. were badly burnt 3. caused 4. close 5. had
6. were warded 7. ranging 8. were mainly 9. started 10. were
11. to seal/ sealing 12. were not damaged
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Article: Five foods to feed a child with ADHD, MSN, 13 Oct 2009
5 Foods to feed a child with ADHD
from MSN, 13 Oct 2009
by Jean Weiss for MSN health and Fitness
CHOOSE: Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
Here is one fat you want your child to have: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the key to unlocking an ADHD child's brain. Studies have found that children with learning disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, often have an EFA deficiency.
The right kinds of fat are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. An ADHD child experiences a miscommunication between brain cells, says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman.
A message is fired, but not received, "so then it gets sucked back up into the neuron that sent it in the first place," says Zimmerman. The EFAs help the brain cells receive the messages sent between synapses, thus eliminating the chatter and preventing the sending neuron from scooping up its own message.
Fish, flax seeds and nuts are great sources of EFAs. The specific EFA to look for is the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA that's found in fish and some algae. Fish oil supplements are an efficient way to help your child get the amount he needs. DHA omega-3 eggs and other foods with DHA added to them are also good sources. EFAs from flax seed and other sources can work too, but the body needs to convert it into the form most advantageous for one's body, so they're a less efficient source.
CHOOSE: Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
Here is one fat you want your child to have: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the key to unlocking an ADHD child's brain. Studies have found that children with learning disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, often have an EFA deficiency.
The right kinds of fat are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. An ADHD child experiences a miscommunication between brain cells, says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman.
A message is fired, but not received, "so then it gets sucked back up into the neuron that sent it in the first place," says Zimmerman. The EFAs help the brain cells receive the messages sent between synapses, thus eliminating the chatter and preventing the sending neuron from scooping up its own message.
Fish, flax seeds and nuts are great sources of EFAs. The specific EFA to look for is the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA that's found in fish and some algae. Fish oil supplements are an efficient way to help your child get the amount he needs. DHA omega-3 eggs and other foods with DHA added to them are also good sources. EFAs from flax seed and other sources can work too, but the body needs to convert it into the form most advantageous for one's body, so they're a less efficient source.
CHOOSE: Protein
If you've ever traded your afternoon caffeine fix for a couple bites of salmon, then you already know: Protein evenly sustains your energy. The same holds true for children with ADHD—eating small portions of protein throughout the day evens out their energy, too. "I have always told parents they need to plan a protein lunch," says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman. "Make sure the child gets protein for breakfast, too."
Serving a protein meal doesn't mean you have to cook. Offer your child string cheese wrapped in whole grain bread. Feed him an egg, or low-fat plain yogurt blended with a banana for sweetness.
Zimmerman suggests mixing protein powder into a smoothie that you serve your child for breakfast, and offering a protein-rich smoothie as a snack when your child returns from school. Throughout the day, offer nuts and seeds, brown rice cakes spread with hummus, or any nut butters such as cashew butter.
CHOOSE: Calcium and magnesium
Give your child a tall glass of milk or lots of green veggies. While calcium is known for helping build strong bones, Zimmerman says it also supports cell membranes and aids the nervous system, especially in impulse transmission, which could improve a child's behavior.
Magnesium also has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to maintain normal muscle and nerve function, and is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have responded positively to supplementation from calcium and magnesium, both of which are found naturally in many foods.
Milk and milk products are a main source of calcium. Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and collard greens, and whole grains and cereals are additional sources. Green veggies such as spinach are a great source of magnesium, as are beans and peas, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
CHOOSE: Trace minerals
Trace minerals are micronutrients that are needed by the body every day, but in small amounts. Trace minerals that would help an ADHD child include zinc and iron. Studies have shown that children with ADHD have low levels of zinc in their bodies compared to children without ADHD. Iron helps regulate the neurotransmitter dopamine and may help children with ADHD, though studies have been inconclusive. Trace minerals are found in fruits, vegetables, and animal products, but many nutritionists recommend supplementing with a sugar-free multivitamin.
AVOID: Sugar
Sugar is an ADHD child's downfall because it robs the body of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from remaining stable.
It doesn't matter if you use refined white sugar or rich dark molasses—all sugars are created equal when it comes to their negative effect on the ADHD child. There may be slight nutritional benefits to some sugars: Sucanat, for example, is pressed cane juice that leaves the fiber behind, so you get the minerals from the plant. Also, honey offers pollen that helps with allergies, molasses contains trace minerals and iron, and agave metabolizes more slowly. Still, you should curb your child's sugar intake and get savvy to hidden sugars in foods such as breakfast cereals, energy bars, sweetened drinks, soy milk and other foods. For example, did you know that a serving of flavored yogurt might contain as much sugar as a serving of ice cream? When looking at a label, along with the obvious "sugar" tag, avoid all artificial sweeteners and foods that contain corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose and fructose.
AVOID: Additives
Blue bubblegum, pink and yellow cake decorations, goldfish crackers dyed the color of the rainbow—all are a visual delight for any child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several hundred food additives designed to improve flavor, taste, and appearance, but this doesn't mean they are healthy for your ADHD child, Zimmerman cautions. Steer clear of all artificial dyes and flavors. Zimmerman specifically mentions food coloring, such as red and yellow, and monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG. And don't assume, just because several years ago you read a lot about it in the media, that unsafe dyes are off the shelves. When possible, go natural with your food products.
AVOID: Hydrogenated oils
Bad fats aren't just the nemesis for weight loss; they also inhibit healthy nerve function. "The wrong kinds of fat don't feed the brain, instead they interfere with the brain," Zimmerman says. "The membranes of the brain have to be very fluid and if you are putting those saturated fats in there, cut back."
The wrong kinds of fats are the trans fats and saturated fats, generally the ones that are hard at room temperature. Manufacturers have become savvy to trans fats, so you'll rarely find those on a label, but you'll still find saturated fats. Healthier oils include flaxseed, canola and olive oils. Another tip to avoid hydrogenated oils: Stick to the grocery store's perimeter when you shop. "I always tell parents to stay out of the middle of the store" where foods are more processed and likely to contain unhealthy fats, Zimmerman says.
AVOID: Caffeine
Caffeine pulls minerals out of the bone, when your body lacks the natural level of minerals it needs to function. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks are acidic and lower the natural pH of the body, says Zimmerman, making it work harder to find a natural balance. This means that an ADHD child who's consuming too much caffeine—sometimes found in chocolates, desserts, and carbonated beverages—may be losing the minerals he needs to assist his nerve function.
AVOID: Salt
Some snackers forgo sugar in favor of salt, but sodium is another nutrient to avoid in excess. Many of us know that sodium can cause high blood pressure, but too much can also interfere with your child's internal equilibrium when it comes to ADHD, says Zimmerman. Similar to caffeine, salt can lead to a depletion of the minerals needed to keep the neurons firing in a healthy manner. Saying sodium "interferes with a child's mineral balance," Zimmerman suggests trading tortilla chips, pretzels and other snacks high in salt for potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. Processed foods tend to be high in sodium, so watch for it on the labels.
from MSN, 13 Oct 2009
by Jean Weiss for MSN health and Fitness
CHOOSE: Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
Here is one fat you want your child to have: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the key to unlocking an ADHD child's brain. Studies have found that children with learning disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, often have an EFA deficiency.
The right kinds of fat are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. An ADHD child experiences a miscommunication between brain cells, says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman.
A message is fired, but not received, "so then it gets sucked back up into the neuron that sent it in the first place," says Zimmerman. The EFAs help the brain cells receive the messages sent between synapses, thus eliminating the chatter and preventing the sending neuron from scooping up its own message.
Fish, flax seeds and nuts are great sources of EFAs. The specific EFA to look for is the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA that's found in fish and some algae. Fish oil supplements are an efficient way to help your child get the amount he needs. DHA omega-3 eggs and other foods with DHA added to them are also good sources. EFAs from flax seed and other sources can work too, but the body needs to convert it into the form most advantageous for one's body, so they're a less efficient source.
CHOOSE: Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
Here is one fat you want your child to have: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the key to unlocking an ADHD child's brain. Studies have found that children with learning disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, often have an EFA deficiency.
The right kinds of fat are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. An ADHD child experiences a miscommunication between brain cells, says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman.
A message is fired, but not received, "so then it gets sucked back up into the neuron that sent it in the first place," says Zimmerman. The EFAs help the brain cells receive the messages sent between synapses, thus eliminating the chatter and preventing the sending neuron from scooping up its own message.
Fish, flax seeds and nuts are great sources of EFAs. The specific EFA to look for is the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA that's found in fish and some algae. Fish oil supplements are an efficient way to help your child get the amount he needs. DHA omega-3 eggs and other foods with DHA added to them are also good sources. EFAs from flax seed and other sources can work too, but the body needs to convert it into the form most advantageous for one's body, so they're a less efficient source.
CHOOSE: Protein
If you've ever traded your afternoon caffeine fix for a couple bites of salmon, then you already know: Protein evenly sustains your energy. The same holds true for children with ADHD—eating small portions of protein throughout the day evens out their energy, too. "I have always told parents they need to plan a protein lunch," says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman. "Make sure the child gets protein for breakfast, too."
Serving a protein meal doesn't mean you have to cook. Offer your child string cheese wrapped in whole grain bread. Feed him an egg, or low-fat plain yogurt blended with a banana for sweetness.
Zimmerman suggests mixing protein powder into a smoothie that you serve your child for breakfast, and offering a protein-rich smoothie as a snack when your child returns from school. Throughout the day, offer nuts and seeds, brown rice cakes spread with hummus, or any nut butters such as cashew butter.
CHOOSE: Calcium and magnesium
Give your child a tall glass of milk or lots of green veggies. While calcium is known for helping build strong bones, Zimmerman says it also supports cell membranes and aids the nervous system, especially in impulse transmission, which could improve a child's behavior.
Magnesium also has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to maintain normal muscle and nerve function, and is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have responded positively to supplementation from calcium and magnesium, both of which are found naturally in many foods.
Milk and milk products are a main source of calcium. Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and collard greens, and whole grains and cereals are additional sources. Green veggies such as spinach are a great source of magnesium, as are beans and peas, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
CHOOSE: Trace minerals
Trace minerals are micronutrients that are needed by the body every day, but in small amounts. Trace minerals that would help an ADHD child include zinc and iron. Studies have shown that children with ADHD have low levels of zinc in their bodies compared to children without ADHD. Iron helps regulate the neurotransmitter dopamine and may help children with ADHD, though studies have been inconclusive. Trace minerals are found in fruits, vegetables, and animal products, but many nutritionists recommend supplementing with a sugar-free multivitamin.
AVOID: Sugar
Sugar is an ADHD child's downfall because it robs the body of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from remaining stable.
It doesn't matter if you use refined white sugar or rich dark molasses—all sugars are created equal when it comes to their negative effect on the ADHD child. There may be slight nutritional benefits to some sugars: Sucanat, for example, is pressed cane juice that leaves the fiber behind, so you get the minerals from the plant. Also, honey offers pollen that helps with allergies, molasses contains trace minerals and iron, and agave metabolizes more slowly. Still, you should curb your child's sugar intake and get savvy to hidden sugars in foods such as breakfast cereals, energy bars, sweetened drinks, soy milk and other foods. For example, did you know that a serving of flavored yogurt might contain as much sugar as a serving of ice cream? When looking at a label, along with the obvious "sugar" tag, avoid all artificial sweeteners and foods that contain corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose and fructose.
AVOID: Additives
Blue bubblegum, pink and yellow cake decorations, goldfish crackers dyed the color of the rainbow—all are a visual delight for any child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several hundred food additives designed to improve flavor, taste, and appearance, but this doesn't mean they are healthy for your ADHD child, Zimmerman cautions. Steer clear of all artificial dyes and flavors. Zimmerman specifically mentions food coloring, such as red and yellow, and monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG. And don't assume, just because several years ago you read a lot about it in the media, that unsafe dyes are off the shelves. When possible, go natural with your food products.
AVOID: Hydrogenated oils
Bad fats aren't just the nemesis for weight loss; they also inhibit healthy nerve function. "The wrong kinds of fat don't feed the brain, instead they interfere with the brain," Zimmerman says. "The membranes of the brain have to be very fluid and if you are putting those saturated fats in there, cut back."
The wrong kinds of fats are the trans fats and saturated fats, generally the ones that are hard at room temperature. Manufacturers have become savvy to trans fats, so you'll rarely find those on a label, but you'll still find saturated fats. Healthier oils include flaxseed, canola and olive oils. Another tip to avoid hydrogenated oils: Stick to the grocery store's perimeter when you shop. "I always tell parents to stay out of the middle of the store" where foods are more processed and likely to contain unhealthy fats, Zimmerman says.
AVOID: Caffeine
Caffeine pulls minerals out of the bone, when your body lacks the natural level of minerals it needs to function. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks are acidic and lower the natural pH of the body, says Zimmerman, making it work harder to find a natural balance. This means that an ADHD child who's consuming too much caffeine—sometimes found in chocolates, desserts, and carbonated beverages—may be losing the minerals he needs to assist his nerve function.
AVOID: Salt
Some snackers forgo sugar in favor of salt, but sodium is another nutrient to avoid in excess. Many of us know that sodium can cause high blood pressure, but too much can also interfere with your child's internal equilibrium when it comes to ADHD, says Zimmerman. Similar to caffeine, salt can lead to a depletion of the minerals needed to keep the neurons firing in a healthy manner. Saying sodium "interferes with a child's mineral balance," Zimmerman suggests trading tortilla chips, pretzels and other snacks high in salt for potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. Processed foods tend to be high in sodium, so watch for it on the labels.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Cloze passage: Quake killed 1,100 UN; Straits Times, 2 Oct 2009
PADANG (Indonesia) - ACROSS this coastal provincial capital, hardest hit by the latest earthquake to 1. ________________ Indonesia, mourners, survivors and 2. __________ workers alike clawed through the rubble.
Some, like Malina Utami, had already realized the worst. She was just looking for the shoes missing from her dead daughter's body, found in the 3. __________ of a four-story school that was 4. ___________ within seconds.
As the death 5. ___________ climbed on Thursday - to 1,100 by one UN estimate - others looked for 6. ____________, with thousands of people missing and feared 7. ____________ in the wreckage of shattered buildings.
When search efforts were suspended for the night, an eerie quiet 8. __________ over the city of 900,000.
'Let's not underestimate. Let's be prepared for the 9. __________,' President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in the capital, Jakarta.
Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake started at sea and quickly rippled through Sumatra, the westernmost island 10. __________the Indonesian archipelago.
Government figures put the number of dead at 777, with at least 440 people 11. ______________ injured. John Holmes, the UN's humanitarian chief, set the death toll at 1,100, and the number was expected to 12. ________________.
President Barack Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, pledged to support earthquake recovery efforts there, as well as provide assistance to the South Pacific countries 13. ___________ Samoa and American Samoa, which were 14. _________ by a deadly tsunami on Tuesday.
Most of the confirmed deaths in Indonesia were reported in Padang, where more than 500 buildings were severely 15. _________ or flattened.
Where a mall once stood was a heap of concrete slabs layered like pancakes with iron rods jutting 16. ________. Police and army rescue teams used bulldozers, backhoes and electric drills to clear the 17. ___________ in intermittent rain, or climbed the hills of rubble to dislodge pieces of concrete with 18. _________ hands.
Relatives of the 19. _________ gathered outside ruined buildings, hoping to hear 20. ________ news. But mostly, the rescuers found bodies. -- REUTERS
ANSWERS
1. devastate 2. rescue 3. rubble 4. flattened 5. toll 6. survivors
7. trapped 8. fell 9. worst 10. in 11. seriously 12. grow
13. of 14. hit 15. damaged 16. out 17. wreckage 18. bare
19. missing 20. good
Some, like Malina Utami, had already realized the worst. She was just looking for the shoes missing from her dead daughter's body, found in the 3. __________ of a four-story school that was 4. ___________ within seconds.
As the death 5. ___________ climbed on Thursday - to 1,100 by one UN estimate - others looked for 6. ____________, with thousands of people missing and feared 7. ____________ in the wreckage of shattered buildings.
When search efforts were suspended for the night, an eerie quiet 8. __________ over the city of 900,000.
'Let's not underestimate. Let's be prepared for the 9. __________,' President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in the capital, Jakarta.
Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake started at sea and quickly rippled through Sumatra, the westernmost island 10. __________the Indonesian archipelago.
Government figures put the number of dead at 777, with at least 440 people 11. ______________ injured. John Holmes, the UN's humanitarian chief, set the death toll at 1,100, and the number was expected to 12. ________________.
President Barack Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, pledged to support earthquake recovery efforts there, as well as provide assistance to the South Pacific countries 13. ___________ Samoa and American Samoa, which were 14. _________ by a deadly tsunami on Tuesday.
Most of the confirmed deaths in Indonesia were reported in Padang, where more than 500 buildings were severely 15. _________ or flattened.
Where a mall once stood was a heap of concrete slabs layered like pancakes with iron rods jutting 16. ________. Police and army rescue teams used bulldozers, backhoes and electric drills to clear the 17. ___________ in intermittent rain, or climbed the hills of rubble to dislodge pieces of concrete with 18. _________ hands.
Relatives of the 19. _________ gathered outside ruined buildings, hoping to hear 20. ________ news. But mostly, the rescuers found bodies. -- REUTERS
ANSWERS
1. devastate 2. rescue 3. rubble 4. flattened 5. toll 6. survivors
7. trapped 8. fell 9. worst 10. in 11. seriously 12. grow
13. of 14. hit 15. damaged 16. out 17. wreckage 18. bare
19. missing 20. good
Masive Tsunami hits Samoa, killing 113, Straits Times, 1 Oct 2009.
APIA (WESTERN SAMOA): Towering tsunamis churned up by a huge
1. _______________slammed into the Samoan islands on Tuesday, killing at least 113 people as they 2. ____________ out entire villages and flattened tourist resorts.
Monster 3. ___________ that witnesses and officials said measured 3m to 7.5m in 4. ____________ pounded the remote Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa after an 8.0-magnitude undersea quake 5. ___________ in the early morning.
While the quake toppled buildings and 6. ____________ thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami 7. ____________, many others were hit by the walls of 8. ____________ that swept people and cars out to sea and destroyed 9. ___________ settlements.
Samoa, an island nation of 180,000 people, is located about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Neighbouring American Samoa is a US territory that is home to 65,000 people.
US President Barack Obama called the situation in American Samoa a 'major disaster' and vowed 'aggressive' action to 10. __________ survivors.
'I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response,' he said.
Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he was 'shocked beyond belief'.
'So much has gone. So many people are gone,' he told the Australian news agency AAP.
The tsunamis swept 11. __________ the Pacific, battering Samoa, where hospital workers said at least 84 people had been killed, American Samoa, where 22 were felled, and Tonga, where at least seven 12. _____________ died.
As Australia, New Zealand and the United States led with immediate pledges of aid, scores more people were missing or feared 13. ___________in the chaos.
'Entire villages have been wiped out,' local journalist Jona Tuiletufuga said, adding that up to 70 villages had stood in the way of the waves in the worst-hit area and that each had housed from 300 to 800 people.
Nine members of one family were killed in the village of Lalomanu on the south-east of Samoa, a relative said.
'My family own the Taufua Beach Fales and we have confirmation that nine members of our family have 14. ____________, four of them children, and many more are missing,' the bereaved relative told Australia's public broadcaster. 'The tourists haven't been accounted for either.'
Amateur video footage showed villages that had been obliterated, homes reduced to metal and wood, and cars stuck in treetops, where they had been hurled by the force of the 15. _____________.
Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni said his tiny country's tourism hot spot had been 'devastated'.
The tsunami left residents and holidaymakers with little time to flee.
'We've heard most of the resorts are totally 16. ____________ on that side of the island. We've had a pretty grim picture painted of that coast,' said Mr Telefoni.
Australia said at least two of its citizens, including a six-year-old girl, were dead, while Seoul said two Koreans had also been killed. One person from New Zealand was also feared 17. ____________.
Apia, the capital of Samoa, was evacuated as officials scrambled to get thousands of residents to higher ground.
Officials in American Samoa, about 100km from Samoa, said the death toll of 22 was expected to climb.
In the capital of Pago Pago, the streets and fields were filled with ocean debris, mud, overturned cars and several boats as a massive cleanup effort continued into the night. Several buildings in the city were flattened.
The eastern part of the island was without power and water supplies after the devastating earthquake, which 18. __________ at 6.48am on Tuesday (1.48am yesterday Singapore time) at a depth of 18km, 195km south of Apia.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami 19. __________ over a vast swathe of the Pacific, as far as Hawaii, which was later cancelled. The walls of moving water were so 20. ____________ that small tsunami waves were able to reach the shores of Japan thousands of kilometres away.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Straits Times, 1 Oct 2009.
ANSWERS
1. earthquake 2. wiped 3. waves 4. height 5. struck
6. sent 7. approached 8. water 9. coastal 10. help
11. across 12. people 13. dead 14. perished
15. water 16. devastated 17. dead 18. struck
19. alert 20. powerful
1. _______________slammed into the Samoan islands on Tuesday, killing at least 113 people as they 2. ____________ out entire villages and flattened tourist resorts.
Monster 3. ___________ that witnesses and officials said measured 3m to 7.5m in 4. ____________ pounded the remote Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa after an 8.0-magnitude undersea quake 5. ___________ in the early morning.
While the quake toppled buildings and 6. ____________ thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami 7. ____________, many others were hit by the walls of 8. ____________ that swept people and cars out to sea and destroyed 9. ___________ settlements.
Samoa, an island nation of 180,000 people, is located about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Neighbouring American Samoa is a US territory that is home to 65,000 people.
US President Barack Obama called the situation in American Samoa a 'major disaster' and vowed 'aggressive' action to 10. __________ survivors.
'I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response,' he said.
Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he was 'shocked beyond belief'.
'So much has gone. So many people are gone,' he told the Australian news agency AAP.
The tsunamis swept 11. __________ the Pacific, battering Samoa, where hospital workers said at least 84 people had been killed, American Samoa, where 22 were felled, and Tonga, where at least seven 12. _____________ died.
As Australia, New Zealand and the United States led with immediate pledges of aid, scores more people were missing or feared 13. ___________in the chaos.
'Entire villages have been wiped out,' local journalist Jona Tuiletufuga said, adding that up to 70 villages had stood in the way of the waves in the worst-hit area and that each had housed from 300 to 800 people.
Nine members of one family were killed in the village of Lalomanu on the south-east of Samoa, a relative said.
'My family own the Taufua Beach Fales and we have confirmation that nine members of our family have 14. ____________, four of them children, and many more are missing,' the bereaved relative told Australia's public broadcaster. 'The tourists haven't been accounted for either.'
Amateur video footage showed villages that had been obliterated, homes reduced to metal and wood, and cars stuck in treetops, where they had been hurled by the force of the 15. _____________.
Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni said his tiny country's tourism hot spot had been 'devastated'.
The tsunami left residents and holidaymakers with little time to flee.
'We've heard most of the resorts are totally 16. ____________ on that side of the island. We've had a pretty grim picture painted of that coast,' said Mr Telefoni.
Australia said at least two of its citizens, including a six-year-old girl, were dead, while Seoul said two Koreans had also been killed. One person from New Zealand was also feared 17. ____________.
Apia, the capital of Samoa, was evacuated as officials scrambled to get thousands of residents to higher ground.
Officials in American Samoa, about 100km from Samoa, said the death toll of 22 was expected to climb.
In the capital of Pago Pago, the streets and fields were filled with ocean debris, mud, overturned cars and several boats as a massive cleanup effort continued into the night. Several buildings in the city were flattened.
The eastern part of the island was without power and water supplies after the devastating earthquake, which 18. __________ at 6.48am on Tuesday (1.48am yesterday Singapore time) at a depth of 18km, 195km south of Apia.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami 19. __________ over a vast swathe of the Pacific, as far as Hawaii, which was later cancelled. The walls of moving water were so 20. ____________ that small tsunami waves were able to reach the shores of Japan thousands of kilometres away.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Straits Times, 1 Oct 2009.
ANSWERS
1. earthquake 2. wiped 3. waves 4. height 5. struck
6. sent 7. approached 8. water 9. coastal 10. help
11. across 12. people 13. dead 14. perished
15. water 16. devastated 17. dead 18. struck
19. alert 20. powerful
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ARTICLES
READERS'DIGEST
December 2009
Our Favourite Toy
As soon as we saw that battery-operated car in the toy shop, my brother and I talked of little else. Could our struggling parents afford it?
by Aung Khine
December 2008
The tropical sun blazed from above the toddy trees and a mirage danced on the horizon. It seemed as if Hell itself were boiling up from underneath the ground.
Father sighed quietly as he looked across his fields. The cotton-wool plants were starting to shrivel in the heat. He had done everything he could to salvage his crop, but it seemed there was nothing more he could do.
Both my parents were from Myingyan, a Burmese district town 100 kilometres south of Mandalay. But Ko Kyaw Zin, my elder brother, and I were raised as "country kids" in a small village near Myingyan, where Mother was a high school teacher.
Father also had a bachelor's degree in education, but he had trouble finding a job. So he bought a few acres of land near the village and tried to make a living as a farmer. Unfortunately, the country's struggling economy and the region's harsh weather never favoured him. Mother's salary was not enough to support a family, and they struggled to make ends meet.
Father had to labour all day long under the scorching sun. Mother also worked on the farm on weekends to save the expense of another worker. Most of the money they earned at harvest time was used to repay loan sharks.
Despite their hardships, I never heard them complaining. They were happy and believed that their sons would someday become great men.
When Ko Kyaw Zin was nine and I was eight, we spent our summer holidays with our grandparents in Myingyan. During a visit to the Twin Cats Store, we spotted a red battery-operated car. It had real headlights and flickering tail-lights. To our eyes it was an angel in the world of all toys.
Infatuated as we were, we did not enquire about the price. Why bother when it was obviously too expensive for us? We had never owned real toys - all of our playthings were make-dos built from cardboard boxes and broken housewares.
Still, Ko Kyaw Zin and I often talked enthusiastically about that beautiful car. Later, our parents joined us in Myingyan, and when Father heard about the car, he announced that if we loved it that much he would buy it for us. When he had enough money we would go to the store and get it.
We were elated. From that day on, we never stopped talking about our big plans for our car. We even prepared a bamboo box with a lock to keep it in. The summer holidays were almost over; we would have to go back to our village soon. Then the big day came. Father said we could buy the car.
During the ten-minute walk to the Twin Cats Store, my brother and I giggled and hopped and bounced along beside Father. When we arrived, I walked straight up to the display case and pointed to the elegant little car.
The store clerk glanced at us and hesitatingly took it out. No doubt she thought that a weary-looking man and his sons in worn-out clothes could only be annoying window shoppers.
"It's 370 Kyats," she told us in a monotone. That's about $57 now.
I stood there, holding the car and waiting for Father to pay. He smiled at us and said in a soft voice, "Ah, Sons, that's a little bit more than what I've got in my pocket at the moment. We'll have to come back later."
There was a silence. We might have been young but we understood. Then Father pointed to another toy car and asked the clerk, "How about that one?"
"That is more expensive." She wasn't even looking at us.
Father had always been a brave man, but I wonder how much courage he needed to face his boys as he took their hands and retreated from the store.
We walked back to our grandparents' house in silence. "Well, with 370, your mother can buy a new uniform," Father said as if talking to himself. We knew mother had only one school uniform, which she had to wash each day after school and wear again the next day. Ko Kyaw Zin and I never spoke about the toy car again.
Years passed and my parents decided there was no future for us in the village. We moved to Myingyan and Father started giving private tuition classes to matriculation students. It turned out to be a lucrative job. We no longer struggled to get by.
My brother and I attended the Mandalay University of Medicine, and we only saw our parents on holidays. One day when I was back home, I saw Father counting his money after evening classes. Holding a stack of notes, he said to Mother, "What do you think I'd like to do with all this money?"
"No idea," said Mother.
"I want to buy a car from the Twin Cats Store."
Mother only smiled. At first I was astonished they had remembered such a small thing after a decade. Then I realised how stupid I was to have thought it was just an unimportant incident in their lives. I pretended not to have a clue what they were talking about. Why would I let them know that their little boy, too, could not forget his favourite toy, the one he couldn't have?
December 2009
Our Favourite Toy
As soon as we saw that battery-operated car in the toy shop, my brother and I talked of little else. Could our struggling parents afford it?
by Aung Khine
December 2008
The tropical sun blazed from above the toddy trees and a mirage danced on the horizon. It seemed as if Hell itself were boiling up from underneath the ground.
Father sighed quietly as he looked across his fields. The cotton-wool plants were starting to shrivel in the heat. He had done everything he could to salvage his crop, but it seemed there was nothing more he could do.
Both my parents were from Myingyan, a Burmese district town 100 kilometres south of Mandalay. But Ko Kyaw Zin, my elder brother, and I were raised as "country kids" in a small village near Myingyan, where Mother was a high school teacher.
Father also had a bachelor's degree in education, but he had trouble finding a job. So he bought a few acres of land near the village and tried to make a living as a farmer. Unfortunately, the country's struggling economy and the region's harsh weather never favoured him. Mother's salary was not enough to support a family, and they struggled to make ends meet.
Father had to labour all day long under the scorching sun. Mother also worked on the farm on weekends to save the expense of another worker. Most of the money they earned at harvest time was used to repay loan sharks.
Despite their hardships, I never heard them complaining. They were happy and believed that their sons would someday become great men.
When Ko Kyaw Zin was nine and I was eight, we spent our summer holidays with our grandparents in Myingyan. During a visit to the Twin Cats Store, we spotted a red battery-operated car. It had real headlights and flickering tail-lights. To our eyes it was an angel in the world of all toys.
Infatuated as we were, we did not enquire about the price. Why bother when it was obviously too expensive for us? We had never owned real toys - all of our playthings were make-dos built from cardboard boxes and broken housewares.
Still, Ko Kyaw Zin and I often talked enthusiastically about that beautiful car. Later, our parents joined us in Myingyan, and when Father heard about the car, he announced that if we loved it that much he would buy it for us. When he had enough money we would go to the store and get it.
We were elated. From that day on, we never stopped talking about our big plans for our car. We even prepared a bamboo box with a lock to keep it in. The summer holidays were almost over; we would have to go back to our village soon. Then the big day came. Father said we could buy the car.
During the ten-minute walk to the Twin Cats Store, my brother and I giggled and hopped and bounced along beside Father. When we arrived, I walked straight up to the display case and pointed to the elegant little car.
The store clerk glanced at us and hesitatingly took it out. No doubt she thought that a weary-looking man and his sons in worn-out clothes could only be annoying window shoppers.
"It's 370 Kyats," she told us in a monotone. That's about $57 now.
I stood there, holding the car and waiting for Father to pay. He smiled at us and said in a soft voice, "Ah, Sons, that's a little bit more than what I've got in my pocket at the moment. We'll have to come back later."
There was a silence. We might have been young but we understood. Then Father pointed to another toy car and asked the clerk, "How about that one?"
"That is more expensive." She wasn't even looking at us.
Father had always been a brave man, but I wonder how much courage he needed to face his boys as he took their hands and retreated from the store.
We walked back to our grandparents' house in silence. "Well, with 370, your mother can buy a new uniform," Father said as if talking to himself. We knew mother had only one school uniform, which she had to wash each day after school and wear again the next day. Ko Kyaw Zin and I never spoke about the toy car again.
Years passed and my parents decided there was no future for us in the village. We moved to Myingyan and Father started giving private tuition classes to matriculation students. It turned out to be a lucrative job. We no longer struggled to get by.
My brother and I attended the Mandalay University of Medicine, and we only saw our parents on holidays. One day when I was back home, I saw Father counting his money after evening classes. Holding a stack of notes, he said to Mother, "What do you think I'd like to do with all this money?"
"No idea," said Mother.
"I want to buy a car from the Twin Cats Store."
Mother only smiled. At first I was astonished they had remembered such a small thing after a decade. Then I realised how stupid I was to have thought it was just an unimportant incident in their lives. I pretended not to have a clue what they were talking about. Why would I let them know that their little boy, too, could not forget his favourite toy, the one he couldn't have?
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