Unit 1
Sharks are fishes and most have the typical fusiform body shape. Like other fishes, sharks are
ectothermic (cold-blooded), live in water, have fins, and breathe with gills. However, sharks differ
from Osteichthyes fish. One difference is that a shark's skeleton is made of cartilage instead of
bone. Another visible difference is that bony fish tend to have a single gill slit, whereas all but two
species of shark have 5 gill slits. The largest shark is the 13.7 m (45 ft) whale shark. The 22 to 25
cm (8.7 to 9.8 in.) midwater shark and pygmy ribbontail catshark are among the smallest. The
characteristic teeth of each species are adapted to that particular species' diet. The teeth may be
serrated or smooth. Most are used for seizing prey, cutting, or crushing. Some sharks are probably
not very picky about what they eat. But certain kinds of sharks eat some foods more than others.
For example, hammerhead sharks eat mostly stingrays. Tiger sharks eat sea turtles. And whale
sharks eat plankton. Because sharks grow slowly and have a low reproductive rate, scientists
believe that sharks are relatively long-lived. As of yet, there is no accurate way to determine the
age and lifespan of a shark. Sharks live all over the world, from warm, tropical lagoons to polar
seas. Some even inhabit freshwater lakes and rivers.
1. What kind of animals are sharks?
2. How are sharks different from Osteichthyes fish?
3. How do the teeth of a shark look like and how are they used?
4. Which fact makes the scientists believe that sharks are relatively long-lived?
5. Where do sharks live?
1. Sharks are fishes that have the typical fusiform body shape, are ectothermic (cold-blooded), live
in water, have fins, and breathe with gills.
2. Sharks are different from Osteichthyes fish in such a way that a shark’s skeleton is made of
cartilage instead of bone and some species of shark have 5 gill slits while bony fish tend to have a
single gill slit.
3. The teeth of a shark look like serrated or smooth and they are used for seizing prey, cutting, or
crushing.
4. The fact that sharks grow slowly and have a low reproductive rate makes the scientists believe
that sharks are relatively long-lived.
5. Sharks live all over the world, from warm, tropical lagoons to polar seas and some even live in
freshwater lakes and rivers.
Unit 2
Online learning is one of the imminent trends in the education sector around the globe. In Elearning, the students study from home or any other place, that is most convenient for them. They
can acquire learning material online. The study materials in online education could be texts, audio,
notes, videos, and images. Online education is suitable for those who cannot visit or obtain the
traditional education method for one reason or the other. Nearly 6.1 million college students are
currently attending online courses, and this number is growing by around 30 percent yearly.
However, the method of study has its benefits and various drawbacks too.
Like using the computer too much can make the students prone to plagiarism. It can also cause
vision problems as we sit near the laptop almost the whole day. Online education may also hinder
physical development. It can be quite complicated for a person to be accountable for their own
learning without someone to drive them to do something. It detaches you from your classmates.
One might need to put in extra time in some cases to understand the learning process. There are a
number of distractions on the internet through adverts, and this might interrupt our learning. Online
education also has significantly less self-assessment.
1. What makes the students convenient in E-learning?
2. What kinds of study materials are used in online education and for whom is online education
suitable?
3. What can using the computer too much in online education cause?
4. Why is it said that E-learning detaches us from our classmates?
5. What kind of distractions can we have on the internet?
1. Being able to study from home or any other place makes the students convenient in E-learning.
2. Study materials like texts, audio, notes, videos, and images are used in online education and
online education is suitable for those who cannot visit or obtain the traditional education method
for one reason or the other.
3. Using the computer too much in online education can cause the students prone to plagiarism
and also vision problems.
4. It is said that E-learning detaches us from our classmates because we have to study from our
home or any other place in online education and so there may be no close bond or friendship like
we had in the classroom.
5. We can have a number of adverts that might interrupt our learning on the internet.
Unit 3
The brain is an amazing three-pound organ that controls all functions of the body, interprets
information from the outside world, and embodies the essence of the mind and soul. Intelligence,
creativity, emotion, and memory are a few of the many things governed by the brain. The brain
receives information through our five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing - often many
at one time. The brain controls our thoughts, memory and speech, movement of the arms and legs,
and the function of many organs within our body. Protected within the skull, the brain is composed
of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is
composed of right and left hemispheres. It performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision
and hearing, as well as speech, reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine control of movement.
Cerebellum is located under the cerebrum. Its function is to coordinate muscle movements,
maintain posture, and balance. Brainstem acts as a relay center connecting the cerebrum and
cerebellum to the spinal cord. It performs many automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate,
body temperature, wake and sleep cycles, digestion, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and swallowing.
1. What is the weight of the brain and what does it do?
2. What are a few of the many things governed by the brain?
3. What are five senses and what does the brain control?
4. How is brain composed of and what is the function of the largest part of the brain?
5. Where is cerebellum located and what are the automatic functions performed by brainstem?
1. The weight of the brain is three pound and it controls all functions of the body, interprets
information from the outside world, and embodies the essence of the mind and soul.
2. Intelligence, creativity, emotion, and memory are a few of the many things governed by the
brain.
3. Five senses are sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing and the brain controls our thoughts,
memory and speech, movement of the arms and legs, and the function of many organs within our
body.
4. Brain is composed of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem and the function of the largest
part of the brain, cerebrum, is like interpreting touch, vision and hearing, as well as speech,
reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine control of movement.
5. Cerebellum is located under the cerebrum and functions such as breathing, heart rate, body
temperature, wake and sleep cycles, digestion, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and swallowing are
the automatic functions performed by brainstem.
Unit 4
Fast food is a mass-produced food that is prepared and served very quickly. Fast food is less
nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy than other well-prepared and customized meals and dishes.
The term typically refers to the foods sold in a restaurant or store with frozen, preheated or
precooked and served to the customer in a packaged form for take away and self-service styles.
With the limited time for preparing food at home, fast food consumption is significantly increasing
all over the world. There are many kinds of fast food and local fast food is one of them. Local fast
foods are available from small and independent vendors running shops mostly with the carts, tables,
portable grills and motor vehicles. Shop designs and types of food sold typically vary depending
on the culture, tastes and preferences of local people in the country. Many local small restaurants
and food stalls serve Myanmar traditional food and recipes, desserts, street food, various kinds of
vegetable and meat salads, crispy glows, cold drinks, etc. They are mostly seen in crowded areas,
traditional markets and near community. They are independent and can be operated with small
amounts of resources and capital. They are mostly targeted local markets and are operated by local
vendors.
1. What is fast food and how is it compared to other foods?
2. Why is the consumption of fast food significantly increasing all over the world?
3. Where are local fast foods available?
4. What do many local small restaurants and food stalls serve?
5. What are the advantages of operating a local small restaurant?
1. Fast food is a mass-produced food that is prepared and served very quickly and it is less
nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy compared to other foods.
2. The consumption of fast food is significantly increasing all over the world because our time is
limited for preparing food at home.
3. Local fast foods are available from small and independent vendors running shops mostly with
the carts, tables, portable grills and motor vehicles.
4. Many local small restaurants and food stalls serve Myanmar traditional food and recipes,
desserts, street food, various kinds of vegetable and meat salads, crispy glows, cold drinks, etc.
5. The advantages of operating a local small restaurant are that they are independent and can be
operated with small amounts of resources and capital.
Unit 5
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate
of Dubai. Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, the city grew rapidly in the
early 21st century with a focus on tourism and luxury. Oil revenue helped accelerate the
development of the city, which was already a major mercantile hub. Dubai's economy relies on
revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. The city has a population
of around 3.4 million (as of 2021). Burj Khalifa is one of the most famous places in Dubai. It is a
symbol of its length. The tower is eight hundred and twenty-nine meters long. It is the tallest tower
in the world. And Jumeirah Mosque is the most beautiful mosque in Dubai and the mosque has
been built to be identical to the Al-Azhar mosque located in Egypt, the mosque holds the aesthetics
of Islamic engineering design. Also, Dubai Water City is one of the most important tourist
attractions in Dubai. It has a hundred and forty species of marine animals. It is located under the
Dubai Mall. The walkway under the large fish pond, which surrounds you from all sides, can make
it one of the most exciting experiences in your life.
1. When was Dubai established and where is it located?
2. How did Dubai develop and what does their economy rely on now?
3. Why is Burj Khalifa famous?
4. What is unique about Jumeirah Mosque?
5. What does Dubai Water City offer?
1. Dubai was established in the 18th century and it is located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
2. Dubai developed with the help of oil revenue and their economy relies on revenues from trade,
tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services now.
3. Burj Khalifa is famous because it is eight hundred and twenty-nine meters long and the tallest
tower in the world.
4. Being identical to the Al-Azhar mosque located in Egypt is unique about Jumeirah Mosque.
5. Dubai Water City offers a hundred and forty species of marine animals and the walkway under
the large fish pond, which surrounds you from all sides.
Unit 6
Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between
the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia’s capital is Canberra, located
in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres
of Sydney and Melbourne and all its states use the Australian dollar. Obviously, there are many
beautiful places to visit and Great Barrier Reef is one of them. The Great Barrier Reef is one of
the seven wonders of the natural world. Stretching 3000 km across the coast of Queensland, the
Great Barrier Reef is a diver’s dream. Whether you are an avid scuba diver, casual snorkeller or
first time underwater newbie, there is something for everyone. Also located in Queensland,
the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Australia’s natural wonders.
At 180 million years old, it covers 1200 square km and visitors can take a Dreamtime walk with
an Indigenous guide from the Kuku Yalanji Tribe. Not to be missed is Kangaroo Island located off
the coast of South Australia and is an incredible place in Australia to tour for a few days. It is a
spectacular wildlife haven for Kangaroos, Koalas, Seals and Pelicans. There is even a Birds of
Prey rehabilitation centre where you can watch a show and learn about birds that are indigenous
to the continent.
1. Where is Australia located and what is its capital?
2. What is unique about the Great Barrier Reef and what can we do there?
3. Where is the Daintree Rainforest located and what can visitors do there?
4. How old is it and what is its area?
4. Where is Kangaroo Island located and what does it offer?
1. Australia is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere and its
capital is Canberra.
2. Being one of the seven wonders of the natural world is unique about the Great Barrier Reef and
we can dive, whether scuba diving or casual snorkeling, there.
3. The Daintree Rainforest is located in Queensland and visitors can take a Dreamtime walk with
an Indigenous guide from the Kuku Yalanji Tribe.
4. It is 180 million years old and its area is 1200 square km.
5. Kangaroo Island is located off the coast of South Australia and it offers a spectacular wildlife
haven for Kangaroos, Koalas, Seals and Pelicans and even a Birds of Prey rehabilitation centre
where you can watch a show and learn about birds that are indigenous to the continent.
Unit 7
The stomach is a J-shaped organ that digests food. Your stomach sits in your upper abdomen on
the left side of your body. The top of your stomach connects to a valve called the esophageal
sphincter (a muscle at the end of your esophagus). The bottom of your stomach connects to your
small intestine. The stomach produces enzymes (substances that create chemical reactions) and
acids (digestive juices). This mix of enzymes and digestive juices breaks down food so it can pass
to your small intestine. Your stomach is part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a
long tube that starts at your mouth. It runs to your anus, where stool (poop) leaves your body. The
GI tract is a key part of your digestive system. Your stomach’s purpose is to digest food and send
it to your small intestine. It has three functions: temporarily store food, contract and relax to mix
and break down food and produce enzymes and other specialized cells to digest food. And about
the size, it varies from person to person. Your stomach expands when full and deflates when empty.
Because of this, your stomach size can vary depending on how recently and how much you have
eaten.
1. What is the stomach and where does it lie?
2. How does it digest food?
3. What is the GI tract?
4. What are the three functions of the stomach?
5. Why can the stomach size vary depending on how recently and how much you have eaten?
1. The stomach is a J-shaped organ that digests food and it lies in our upper abdomen on the left
side of our body.
2. It digests food by producing enzymes (substances that create chemical reactions) and acids
(digestive juices).
3. The GI tract is a long tube that starts at your mouth and runs to your anus, where stool (poop)
leaves your body.
4. The three functions of the stomach are to temporarily store food, contract and relax to mix and
break down food and produce enzymes and other specialized cells to digest food.
5. The stomach size can vary depending on how recently and how much we have eaten because
our stomach expands when full and deflates when empty.
Unit 8
“The Judge and the Thief”: There was once a man, Hassan, who kept all his money in a box under
his bed. One day, he discovered his money was missing. He asked the judge for help. “Your
Honour,” he said, “someone has stolen my money. There are many people living in my house but
I do not know who is guilty.” The judge said, “Call all your housemates here and I shall find out
who the thief is.” When all of Hassan’s housemates appeared, the judge said, “I have some magic
sticks of the same length. All of you will be given one stick. Bring the sticks back to me tomorrow
morning. Only the thief’s stick will grow longer by 5 cm.” Frightened the thief tried to think of a
way to cover up his theft. Finally, he found a solution – he cut the sticker shorter by exactly 5 cm.
“When my stick grows in the night, it will be the same length as the others,” he thought, proud of
his brilliant plan. The next morning, when everyone gathered in front of the judge, the length of
sticks in their hands remained the same – except the thief. His was shorter by 5 cm. The judge
pointed to him and declared, “It’s you who have stolen the money!”.
1. Where did Hassan keep his money?
2. Who does “Your Honour” refer to?
3. What would happen to the thief’s magic stick according to the statement said by the judge?
4. Why did the thief cut his magic stick?
5. How did the judge find the thief?
1. Hassan kept his money in a box under his bed.
2. “Your Honour” refers to the judge.
3. The thief’s magic stick would grow longer by 5 cm tomorrow according to the statement said
by the judge.
4. The thief cut his magic stick so that the length of his magic stick would be the same tomorrow
and no one would find out that he was a thief. / so that when his stick grew in the night, it would
be the same length as the others.
5. The judge found the thief by searching the person whose stick was shorter by 5 cm than others.
Unit 9
Depression is one of the most common types of mental health conditions and often develops
alongside anxiety. Depression can be mild and short-lived or severe and long-lasting. Some people
are affected by depression only once, while others may experience it multiple times. Depression
can lead to suicide, but this is preventable when appropriate support is provided. It’s important to
know that much can be done to help young people who are thinking about suicide. Depression can
happen as a reaction to something like abuse, violence in school, the death of someone close or
family problems like domestic violence or family breakdown. Someone might get depressed
after being stressed for a long time. It can also run in the family. Sometimes we may not know
why it happens. Children and adolescents who experience depression are at greater risk of selfharm, so such responses should always be taken seriously. Just because a child seems sad, it doesn't
necessarily mean they have depression. But if the sadness becomes persistent or interferes with
normal social activities, interests, schoolwork or family life, it may mean they need support from
a mental health professional.
1. What is depression?
2. What is the worst thing that we can do when we are depressed and how can we prevent?
3. State some problems that can cause depression.
4. Whose responses should be taken seriously and why?
5. If a child seems sad, does it mean he / she has depression? If not, how can we know that a child
has depression or not?
1. Depression is one of the most common types of mental health conditions and often develops
alongside anxiety.
2. The worst thing that we can do when we are depressed is committing suicide and we can prevent
with the appropriate support.
3. Some problems that can cause depression are abuse, violence in school, the death of someone
close or family problems like domestic violence or family breakdown.
4. Depressed children and adolescents’ responses should be taken seriously because they are at
greater risk of self-harm.
5. If a child seems sad, it doesn’t mean he / she has depression. We can know that a child has
depression if the child’s sadness becomes persistent or interferes with normal social activities,
interests, schoolwork or family life.
Unit 10
Sleeping pills are classified as sedative hypnotics and are prescribed to insomnia and other sleep
disorder patients to induce sleep. These pills aim to control the part of the brain that affects our
ability to focus and relax, known as GABA receptors. Made similarly to Benzodiazepines which
are mainly used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, both drugs activate GABA receptors and
produce the same relaxation effects and both are highly addicted.
“Z-Drugs” are non-Benzodiazepines that sedate the user by relaxing the brain in order to bring the
body to a sleep-like state. There are three types of Z-drugs. Ambien (Zolpidem) is marketed as
being less addictive than Benzodiazepines. However, due to its fading effectiveness, an addiction
can start within just 2 weeks. Lunesta (Eszopiclone) is another sleep aid, commonly in the form of
small circular white or blue pills. They only come in 1mg-3mg since they should only be taken for
a short amount of time. And Sonata (Zaleplon) is the last Z-drug which is also designed to induce
sleep. It is taken as a time-release capsule and is known for being one of the fastest Sleeping Pills
on the market. Addiction to Sleeping Pills might not seem like a serious problem, but when they
are mixed with certain substances (Painkillers, Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants, Alcohol) or
taken in high amounts, it can result in death.
1. How do sleeping pills help us?
2. When can we take Benzodiazepines and what is the side effect of it?
3. What are Z-drugs and what are the three types of Z-drugs?
4. What is the shape of Lunesta (Eszopiclone) and why do they only come in 1mg-3mg?
5. What should we avoid when we take sleeping pills?
1. Sleeping pills help us by controlling the part of the brain that affects our ability to focus and
relax, known as GABA receptors and inducing sleep.
2. We can take Benzodiazepines when we have anxiety and panic attacks and the side effect of it
is being highly addicted.
3. Z-Drugs are non-Benzodiazepines that sedate the user by relaxing the brain in order to bring
the body to a sleep-like state and the three types of Z-drugs are Ambien (Zolpidem), Lunesta
(Eszopiclone) and Sonata (Zaleplon).
4. The shape of Lunesta (Eszopiclone) is small circular and they only come in 1mg-3mg because
they should only be taken for a short amount of time.
5. When we take sleeping pills, we should avoid taking together with certain substances such as
Painkillers, Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants and Alcohol or taking in high amounts.
Unit 11
By the 5th century B.C., it was widely accepted that the Earth is a sphere. This is a critical point,
as there is a widespread misconception that ancient people thought the Earth was flat. This was
simply not the case. In the 5th century B.C., Empedocles and Anaxagoras offered arguments for
the spherical nature of the Earth. During a lunar eclipse, when the Earth is between the sun and the
moon, they identified the shadow of the Earth on the moon. As the shadow moves across the moon
it is clearly round. This would suggest that the Earth is a sphere. There was also evidence of the
roundness of the earth in the experiences of sailors. When a ship appears on the horizon, it's the
top of the ship that is visible first. A wide range of astronomy texts over time use this as a way to
illustrate the roundness of the Earth. If the Earth were flat, it would be expected that you would be
able to see the entire ship as soon as it became visible.
1. What was accepted by the 5th century B.C?
2. What was the misconception before that time?
3. Who told that the Earth is a sphere and how did they find it?
4. What is another example that supports the fact that the Earth is a sphere?
5. How can we see a ship on the horizon if the Earth were flat?
1. The fact that the Earth was a sphere was accepted by the 5th century B.C.
2. The misconception before that time was that ancient people thought the Earth was flat.
3. Empedocles and Anaxagoras told that the Earth is a sphere and they found it by identifying the
shadow of the Earth on the moon when the Earth is between the sun and the moon during a lunar
eclipse.
4. Another example that supports the fact that the Earth is a sphere is a ship which of the top is
seen first when it appears on the horizon.
5. We can see the entire ship as soon as it became visible on the horizon if the Earth were flat.
Unit 12
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of
the atmosphere for a given location and time. People have attempted to predict the weather
informally for millennia and formally since the 19th century. Weather forecasts are made by
collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere, land, and ocean and
using meteorology to project how the atmosphere will change at a given place. Once calculated
manually based mainly upon changes in barometric pressure, current weather conditions, and sky
condition or cloud cover, weather forecasting now relies on computer-based models that take
many atmospheric factors into account. Human input is still required to pick the best possible
forecast model to base the forecast upon, which involves pattern recognition skills, teleconnections,
knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model biases. The inaccuracy of forecasting
is due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, the massive computational power required to solve
the equations that describe the atmosphere, the land, and the ocean, the error involved in measuring
the initial conditions, and an incomplete understanding of atmospheric and related processes.
Hence, forecasts become less accurate as the difference between current time and the time for
which the forecast is being made (the range of the forecast) increases. The use of ensembles and
model consensus help narrow the error and provide confidence level in the forecast.
1. What is weather forecasting?
2. How do people forecast the weather?
3. Why do we still need humans although we have computer-based models?
4. When can there be the inaccuracy of forecasting?
5. When do forecasts become less accurate according to the passage and how can we reduce the
inaccuracy?
1. Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of
the atmosphere for a given location and time.
2. People forecast the weather by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the
atmosphere, land, and ocean and using meteorology to project how the atmosphere will change at
a given place.
3. We still need humans although we have computer-based models because humans have pattern
recognition skills, teleconnections, knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model
biases.
4. There can be the inaccuracy of forecasting when there is the chaotic nature of the atmosphere,
the massive computational power required to solve the equations that describe the atmosphere, the
land, and the ocean, the error involved in measuring the initial conditions, and an incomplete
understanding of atmospheric and related processes.
5. Forecasts become less accurate when the difference between current time and the time for which
the forecast is being made (the range of the forecast) increases according to the passage and we
can reduce the inaccuracy with the use of ensembles and model consensus which can help narrow
the error and provide confidence level in the forecast.