Summary:  Since Earth’s atmosphere is in trouble, a group called the Marin Carbon Project says it has a proven way to slow the rise in temperature and even partially reverse the condition. It is scary to watch the ocean die-off, and animals in South and North poles have nowhere to live due to the melting of the ice. As a result, making a plan to improve the condition admits no time to delay. The article indicates that Jeff Creque, an ecologist, developed a theory that processed compost can help reduce rising temperatures. And then, In December 2008, Creque and Wick tested the theory by comparing one test area which is covered by one and a quarter centimeters of processed compost to the other test area without compost. The result supports Creque’s idea. The compost-treated land pulled carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and take in carbon during photosynthesis. The experiment shows that carbon farming can control the rising temperature. Nonetheless, some people think that more work and experiments should be done to verify that if the carbon farming could be applied effectively to every plot of different land.

 

          2. Can you describe how does the rising temperature influence the world?

          3. Can you please try to give several advices that can help control rise in temperature?

3.(1) Reduce the pollution discharged by the factories in the world.

  (2) Protect the forests in the world 

  (3) use more electric fuels instead of petroleum in order to reduce the CO2 

original: So, the water implications of this, particularly for a state like California...

Definition: An implication is something that is suggested, or happens, indirectly.

My own sentence: This crime implicated three men, what made me surprised is that one of the criminals worked for government.

Synonyms: deduction, entailment.

 

original: Multiplication is pretty easy, but the site-by-site prescriptions are much more complicated than that.

Definition: an idea or suggestion about how you should behave, or how to make a situation, activity.

My own sentence: We should follow the prescriptions to successfully finish our homework due to the complicated operations of the applications we have to use.

Synonyms: direction, instruction.

 
enhance (v.):
Original: … should increase production of food and fiber, fuel and flora in a way that actually enhances the resources.
enhancement (n.)
Definition: to improve or argument, especially in effectiveness, or value
My own sentence: My living expense has enhanced recently.
Synonyms: heighten, improve

1. I think carbon farming is more than simply saying good or bad.  Using plants is the most efficient way to absorb carbon dioxide. Everything else we do only can reduce the emissions. However, the problem the passage mentions is also unavoidable: different regions have different soil textures. Carbon farming will not always work. If we can overcome the geographic boundaries, it is unquestionably good for our environment.

3. advices:
    a. Use renewable (alternative) energy, such as hydroelectricity and tidal power, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas.
    b. Classify the rubbish .
    c. Take more public traffic instead of driving or choose fuel- efficient vehicles.

Summary: In the article “Visit the World's Only Carbon-Negative Country”, the author, Soo Youn, indicates that Bhutan is a country without air pollution. Soo points out that Bhutan is the world’s happiest country that with “carbon negative”. Soo mentions that Bhutan uses sustainability as its national identity, protecting environment by increasing controlled, low-impact tourism. Then, Soo finds that tourists who visit Bhutan need to pay a mandatory additional fee from $200-$250 to pay for accommodations since there is no independent travel in this country. In addition, Tourists need to pay one daily sustainable fee for the country’s welfare and infrastructure. Soo points out that many reasons lead to Bhutan’s carbon negative, including protected forests, tree planting, small populations and outdated infrastructure.

Response: I was surprised to know there is a country between China and India with “carbon negative” when I first saw the title. However, I learned the reasons that Bhutan can keep such good air quality. Bhutan controls the tourism and charges fees from tourists to maintain the country’s infrastructure and good air quality. They have outdated constructions and depends on financial aid from other countries. I am curious about what will Bhutan be when it starts to develop the industry and companies rapidly. 

DQs:

1)Do you think Bhutan is the happiest country in the world because of carbon negative even though its finance relies on tourism mostly? 

2)Would you like to live in such country?  (with good environment but with outdated society)

3)Can you give three labels on what is the definition of  the happiest country?

Original: This goes towards funding education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation…

Definition: provide physical relief, as from pain

My own sentence: In order to alleviate the pressure of too much populations, China started to implement “one-child” policy in the 1960s.

Synonyms: assuage, relieve.

 

Original:  But that’s not to say the country can be complacent.

Definition: contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions

My own sentence: He became complacent after he won several matches.

Synonyms: content, self-satisfied

 
enlightened (adj.):
Original: Our enlightened monarchs have worked tirelessly to develop our country, balancing economic growth carefully with social development…
enlightenment (n.)
Definition: having knowledge and spiritual insight
My own sentence: I believe that reading can lead us to a more enlightened road.
Synonyms: edified, educated


Discussion:
1. I do think Bhutan is the happiest country in the world because a good ecological environment can not be bought with money. And I don't think the reliance on tourism is a big problem. As the article mentions, the monarchs there work tirelessly to balance economic growth with social development, environmental sustainability and cultural preservation. I believe people there will perfectly protect such a pure land while maintain the country's economic development.

2. I am more than happy to live in such a country. In fact, I often complain of the rapid pace of modern life. Living in Bhutan can give myself a break. I will feel refreshed and rejuvenated under more primitive circumstances. However, I believe I will need a very long period of time to adapt to the life there based on the fact that I've got used to living in prosperous metropolis.

 
anxious (adj.):
Original: And when you ask people who are anxious or depressed, for instance, to do that -- you see that it’s really difficult for them to do that.
anxiety (n.)
Definition: causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
My own sentence: I am anxious for my future.
Synonyms: nervous, queasy, troubled

original:  And they’re not exactly easy or intuitive in the moment.” 

Definition: having the ability to understand or know something without any direct evidence or reasoning process. 

Intuition(n.) 

My own sentence: I had an intuitive understanding when I saw that question. 

Synonyms: spontaneous, instinctive. 

 

Depressed(adj.) 

original: And when you ask people who are anxious or depressed, for instance, to do that -- you see that it’s really difficult for them to do that. 

Definition: down in spirit or value, sad and lack energy 

Depression(n.) 

My own sentence: I felt depressed after the exam because I suddenly found that I mistakenly calculated one question wrong. 

Synonyms: dejected, dispirited. 

2. I usually watch my favorite idol’s videos to relieve stress. Also, if there is much stress, I will do more things because then I will have no time to think about stress. Usually when doing multitasks, I will have no time to think about stress even though there is a lot of work. 

3. Yes. I think I try use this method because I think it is a good way for me to calm down and have a peaceful feeling. Also, the research indicates that it is effortless to do the third-person self-talk. I think it is important for me to have a peaceful feeling without thinking hard. 

timid (adj.):
Original: I pray that the production should not reduce this year because we noticed that there is very timid bearing of cocoa, …
timidity (n.)
Definition: showing fear and lack of confidence
My own sentence: The little girl is as timid as a hare.
Synonyms: unadventurous, shy, unassertive, bashful

Discussion:
1. First of all, I think African farmers should be educated about modern farming methods,  privatization and marketing. They have to understand that some of their radical actions will only result in worse outcomes Also, the government should introduce policies, such as incentive policy, in order to keep the quality of cocoa and stop the cocoa industry from being abandoned.

3. I like those snacks made of cocoa very much because cocoa itself has huge health benefits. Cocoa is rich in a group of antioxidant compounds, flavonoids, which can be used to help lower our blood pressure and keep our blood sugar levels in our target range. And it contains a variety of healthy fats. In addition, I am a big fan of sweets. They have a positive influence on my emotions.

1.     The government can help the farmers learn more about the local processing to let them know how to process cocoa. Then these farmers will pay attention to the quality of cocoa because they sell the produced cocoa, like chocolate. Also, the government can make policies to not to harvest cocoa early to give farmers prized and subsidies. 

3.     Yes, I like eating chocolate because it has a specific good flavor. Also, the chocolate can keep my energy for a long time. If I eat one bar of chocolate before exam, i can keep my mind up for the whole exam. 

Original: He advises that production should not be dropped and the quality of the crop should be controlled by halting early harvests.

Definition: stop from happening or developing

My own sentence: To reduce the impact of too much carbon dioxide to global warming, the government halts many factories’ plans.

Synonyms: arrest, hold.

 

Original:  The result, he said, is that prices will continue to be drastically reduced because the cocoa is of very poor quality.

Definition: in a drastic manner

My own sentence: The unprecedented fore in California drastically reduces the primeval forests.

Synonyms: strikingly, uncommonly.

Nowadays people find new drugs that may relieve people’s migraines in a long term. These drugs work to interfere some materials that influence the signaling of nerves and pain progressing. Dr. Andrew Hershey, who tested other migraine drugs and wrote articles for these drugs, pointed out that these drugs are new direction to treat migraines. One study from Amgen and Novartis showed that these drugs could effectively reduce the frequencies of migraines of those people who averaged eight migraines a month and had tried other drugs before. There were also no side effects. However, because the study was short, long-term safety and effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. In addition, these drugs only took placebo treatment instead of comparative treatment. 

 

Response: 

It is my first time to know migraines can be so torturing because these patients suffer from migraines for average 8 times a month. It is fortunate that these new drugs can help them a lot. Many experiments have shown that these drugs are effective and even can cure migraines. However, there are also safety hazards that cannot be tested. I hope these new drugs can be tested for more times now and save more people from migraines in the future. 

 

1.     Have you ever heard about migraines or experienced it? 

2.     Do you think these new drugs can be effective even though they only had placebo treatment?

3.     Will you take one drug even it has side effects?

original:  Studies of two of these medicines, given as shots every month or so, found they cut the frequency of the notoriously painful and disabling headaches.

Definition: known widely and usually unfavorably. 

notorious(adj.) 

My own sentence: This notorious news made that factory go bankrupt because the factory used toxic raw materials.

Synonyms: infamous, ill-famed. 

 

substance(n.) 

original: They work by interfering with a substance involved in modifying nerve signaling and progression of pain and symptoms. 

Definition: Any material that possesses physical properties.

substantial(adj.) 

My own sentence: All substance is made of atoms, including water, air and humans. 

Synonyms: material, item. 

plague (n./v.):
Original: Migraines plague more than a billion people worldwide, more than 38 million in the U.S. alone.
Definition: as a verb: cause to suffer a blight
as a noun: any epidemic disease with a high death rate
My own sentence: A terrible plague hit that small town.
Synonyms: infestation, blight

Discussion:
1. I believe that a migraine now is a common essential headache. Some of my friends have migraine headaches and sometimes they will use essential balm to relieve it. However, I've never suffered from migraines before, so I don't how serious it can be.

3. I don't like to take medicines. Or it's better to say that I only take medicines when it's necessary. So, if one medicine has great side effects, I probably will not take it. However, a few side effects are totally acceptable and unavoidable.

original:  people are living their lives completely out in the open, laying bare all manner of minutiae online.

Definition: a small or minor detail. 

minute(adj.) 

My own sentence: When planning one event, we have to pay attention to all minutiae points because usually small points decide the result.

Synonyms: trivial, small. 

original: This approach is shortsighted and isn't an effective way to build trust. 

Definition: lack foresight or scope.

shortsightedness(n.) 

My own sentence: That commander is shortsighted so when the war started, that country quickly failed.

Synonyms: myopic, superficial. 

 

DQ Answers:
2.  I think it depends. For example, for restaurants, I believe they have to let their every process of making a dish to be transparent, including where they buy those materials, the condition of their kitchens and chef’s cooking process.

3.I think social media plays an important role in promoting and showing transparency. Nowadays, social media is widely used and people can get anything from social media. If we can use social media promote and show transparency, it will be very effective. For example, once I saw an article that said one factory’s products exceeded the criteria of toxic chemicals. In a short time, most people in the country knew this news because of social media and stopped buying products from this factory.