December 2012:: Issue1

What will happen on 21st December 2012?What will happen on 21st December 2012?What will happen on 21st December 2012?What will happen on 21st December 2012?

doomsdaydoomsdaydoomsdaydoomsday

Mayan Mayan calendarcalendarMayan Mayan

calendarcalendar

NASANASANASANASA

astronomersastronomersastronomersastronomers

disastersdisastersdisastersdisasters

Watch and check!Watch and check!Watch and check!Watch and check!

According to NASA’s scientist, what will happen on According to NASA’s scientist, what will happen on 21st December?21st December?

According to NASA’s scientist, what will happen on According to NASA’s scientist, what will happen on 21st December?21st December?

What does the so-called end of the Mayan calendar What does the so-called end of the Mayan calendar mean?mean?

What does the so-called end of the Mayan calendar What does the so-called end of the Mayan calendar mean?mean?

What are some of the myths connected to the end of What are some of the myths connected to the end of the world mentioned in the video? Are any of them the world mentioned in the video? Are any of them

believable? Why (not)?believable? Why (not)?

What are some of the myths connected to the end of What are some of the myths connected to the end of the world mentioned in the video? Are any of them the world mentioned in the video? Are any of them

believable? Why (not)?believable? Why (not)?

““Extraordinary claims Extraordinary claims require extraordinary require extraordinary evidence”. Explain.evidence”. Explain.Do you agree? Why Do you agree? Why

(not)?(not)?

““Extraordinary claims Extraordinary claims require extraordinary require extraordinary evidence”. Explain.evidence”. Explain.Do you agree? Why Do you agree? Why

(not)?(not)?

Let’s talk!

If scientists or politicians discovered that the world If scientists or politicians discovered that the world would soon end, should they make it public? Would would soon end, should they make it public? Would you personally want to know about it? Why (not)?you personally want to know about it? Why (not)?

If scientists or politicians discovered that the world If scientists or politicians discovered that the world would soon end, should they make it public? Would would soon end, should they make it public? Would you personally want to know about it? Why (not)?you personally want to know about it? Why (not)?

What would you do if you woke up one morning and What would you do if you woke up one morning and discovered that everybody else in the world had discovered that everybody else in the world had

disappeared? Explain.disappeared? Explain.

What would you do if you woke up one morning and What would you do if you woke up one morning and discovered that everybody else in the world had discovered that everybody else in the world had

disappeared? Explain.disappeared? Explain.

Which, in your opinion, is most likely to wipe out Which, in your opinion, is most likely to wipe out mankind? An asteroid, a man-made incident, like a mankind? An asteroid, a man-made incident, like a

virus or nuclear war, or the environment gone crazy?virus or nuclear war, or the environment gone crazy?

Which, in your opinion, is most likely to wipe out Which, in your opinion, is most likely to wipe out mankind? An asteroid, a man-made incident, like a mankind? An asteroid, a man-made incident, like a

virus or nuclear war, or the environment gone crazy?virus or nuclear war, or the environment gone crazy?

Have you prepared in any way to survive a disaster or Have you prepared in any way to survive a disaster or an extinction event? Explain.an extinction event? Explain.

Have you prepared in any way to survive a disaster or Have you prepared in any way to survive a disaster or an extinction event? Explain.an extinction event? Explain.

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Match the words with their Match the words with their definitionsdefinitions

Match the words with their Match the words with their definitionsdefinitions

an oil wellan oil well

royaltiesroyalties

a vetoa veto

subsaltsubsalt

a billa bill

a refusal to give official a refusal to give official permission for somethingpermission for something

a proposal for a new law

payment made for some payment made for some right or privilegeright or privilege

existing below salt layersexisting below salt layers

a deep hole in the ground a deep hole in the ground from which companies from which companies

take oiltake oil

Complete Complete with:with:

President Dilma Rousseff on Friday modified a __________ that President Dilma Rousseff on Friday modified a __________ that would redistribute proceeds from the country's oil wealth.would redistribute proceeds from the country's oil wealth.

Brazil produces around 1.9 million barrels of crude oil a day. The Brazil produces around 1.9 million barrels of crude oil a day. The figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as a result figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as a result of enormous oil reservoirs that have been discovered in the so-called of enormous oil reservoirs that have been discovered in the so-called __________ region beneath deep Atlantic waters.__________ region beneath deep Atlantic waters.

Ms. Rousseff exercised her __________ against a clause that would Ms. Rousseff exercised her __________ against a clause that would have taken away some 6 billion Brazilian reais a year from Rio de have taken away some 6 billion Brazilian reais a year from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Espírito Santo states, related to __________ Janeiro, São Paulo and Espírito Santo states, related to __________ from __________ that are already producing.from __________ that are already producing.

President Dilma Rousseff on Friday modified a __________ that President Dilma Rousseff on Friday modified a __________ that would redistribute proceeds from the country's oil wealth.would redistribute proceeds from the country's oil wealth.

Brazil produces around 1.9 million barrels of crude oil a day. The Brazil produces around 1.9 million barrels of crude oil a day. The figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as a result figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as a result of enormous oil reservoirs that have been discovered in the so-called of enormous oil reservoirs that have been discovered in the so-called __________ region beneath deep Atlantic waters.__________ region beneath deep Atlantic waters.

Ms. Rousseff exercised her __________ against a clause that would Ms. Rousseff exercised her __________ against a clause that would have taken away some 6 billion Brazilian reais a year from Rio de have taken away some 6 billion Brazilian reais a year from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Espírito Santo states, related to __________ Janeiro, São Paulo and Espírito Santo states, related to __________ from __________ that are already producing.from __________ that are already producing.

veto

oil wells

The oil royalty bill proposes sharing oil revenues The oil royalty bill proposes sharing oil revenues more evenly between oil-producing states like Rio more evenly between oil-producing states like Rio and other states. Do you think that is fair? Why and other states. Do you think that is fair? Why (not)?(not)?

Rio state authorities released employees from Rio state authorities released employees from work and invited musicians and celebrities in order work and invited musicians and celebrities in order to entice people to attend a demonstration against to entice people to attend a demonstration against the bill. Is this kind of protest effective? Why (not)?the bill. Is this kind of protest effective? Why (not)?

A large part of future oil revenues will go to an A large part of future oil revenues will go to an education fund. Do you agree with this decision? education fund. Do you agree with this decision? How should oil money be used? Explain.How should oil money be used? Explain.

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FateFate stresses the irrationality and impersonal character of events: It was Napoleon's fate to be exiled.

DestinyDestiny emphasizes the idea of an unalterable course of events, and is often used of a favorable fortune: It was his destiny to save his nation.

DoomDoom especially applies to the final ending, always unhappy or terrible, brought about by destiny or fate: He met his doom bravely.

Credits

Story 1:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/jpl-asteroid20120307.html

Story 2:

http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/122474/Brazil_Presidency_To_Issue_Partial_Veto_On_Oil_Royalty_Bill

TipsTips

Slide 4 – Elicit definitions from sts and ask them to provide examples before showing the definitions.

Slide 6 – A short transcript of the video may be found at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/jpl-asteroid20120307.html

Slide 7 – Review I wish I had/ conditional structures with sts if needed.