Ginkgo Stinko

Beautiful tree, unusual leaves, terrible smell

Among trees, the Ginkgo biloba tree stands out. It’s not really related to any other living plant. Its unique leaves make the tree beautiful to look at. It’s hardy, too. Disease and pollution don’t bother it. The tree is so hardy that some survived the atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima in 1945! Many cities in Asia and America planted this unique tree along their city streets. But they soon found out that beauty comes with a price. Ginkgo seeds smell really bad, like vomit.

Why did cities plant the bad-smelling trees? Because female trees, which bear the seeds, are impossible to tell from male ones. It takes a female tree at least 25 years to produce its first seeds. So most cities didn't want to cut down the big trees. Neither did some Asians. Inside the smelly flesh lies a white nut. They are prized by Chinese, Japanese and Koreans for cooking. They harvest them from trees in the fall. One man's stink is another man's treat!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: So 
You would not believe the recent controversy one little word has been causing among native English speakers.

It’s the two letter word, “so”.  And the problem it's causing, like so many other things language purists like to complain about, is its unorthodox usages are becoming accepted by the public.

Horrors, "so" is being used to start sentences as in, "So, let me tell you why I think sentences should begin only with a subject."

Right. Not surprisingly, this usage is being propagated mostly by, who else, young people. Critics, that is, the older people, think that using “so” in this way, makes teenager sound unsure of themselves and noncommittal.

Well, young people are using “so” in the middle of sentences too, as in, “I’m so not eating that.”

Hey, is that correct English? Okay, finally “so” is also been used at the ends of sentences, for example, I couldn’t sleep last night, because I drank too much coffee so…

We call this the dangling "so". It suggests the speaker’s thought will continue after the sentence ends.

Some university English departments believe “so” has become so misused that they placed it on their list of banished words, so….

Language Lab
related adj.
things that are related are connected in some way:
- These two robberies are related. They were probably done by the same people.
connected by a family relationship:
- Laura claims that she's related to the royal family.

hardy adj.
strong and healthy and able to bear difficult living conditions:
- The plant is very hardy, so it can survive in harsh winters.
- The children were brought up to be hardy. They're not afraid of challenges.

flesh n. 果食或動物可吃的部份
he soft part of the body of a person or animal that is between the skin and the bones;
the soft part of a fruit or vegetable that can be eaten:
- The flesh of the fruit is sweet and juicy.
- The flesh of the fish was ground up to make fish balls.
- The lion finished eating the antelope's flesh in a matter of hours.
antelope n.
an animal with long horns that can run very fast and is very graceful

stink v.
past tense stank, past participle stunk [intransitive]
to have a strong and very unpleasant smell:
- The rotten fish really stank.
stinky adj.
smelling unpleasant [= smelly]:
- The smell of stinky tofu is repulsive to many people.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150523baa0496f1688152bc69904cbd6803c339125991949cb11b128c8094a17c9f29bb7c.wma

THE PRICE OF FLYING

Do you get what you pay for on budget airlines?

Lois and Chip are planning a trip to Malaysia.

I’m getting excited about our trip to Kuala Lumpur! Did you book tickets yet, honey?

Funny you should mention that. I’m actually looking at airline prices now.

Great minds think alike. But please tell me you’re avoiding the budget airlines.

Why? We could save a couple hundred dollars each travelling on a low-cost carrier.

But they lack the things that make for a comfortable flight.

You never used to care about comforts.

I always took it for granted. Do you remember out last budget flight? We spent eight hours in seats that didn’t even recline!

Oh, I remember. You kept hitting your knees on the seat in front of you!

It wasn’t funny! Do you want me to go through that again?

I’ll avoid that particular airline. KL is less than two hours away by plane. We can sacrifice a little comfort for a cheaper flight, right?

But what if, for some reason, our flight gets cancelled? Most major airlines partner with other airlines that can help when those situations arise. But low-cost carriers don’t.

Language Lab
budget adj.
low in price : suitable for someone who is on a budget
- budget airlines
- This budget travel agent can offer really cheap tickets for our flight.
- The budget hotel is surprisingly clean and comfortable.

carrier n.
a company that moves people or goods from one place to another
- Japan Airlines is the national carrier of Japan.
someone or something that carries something: such as a : mail carrier
- Jack, the mail carrier in our neighborhood, is always energetic and friendly.

recline v.
to lie or lean back in a relaxed way
- The first-class seats on this carrier recline almost like beds.
- Chuck reclined the seat in his car and took a nap.

arise v.
if a problem or difficult situation arises, it begins to happen:
- You have to be prepared when the opportunity arises.
- If any problems arise when you're using the software, don't hesitate to contact us.

THE POWER OF HOUSE PLANTS (2) 4/25

Reduce stress and fatigue

House plants also create a more relaxing and peaceful atmosphere in your home. As a result, they help you feel calmer and more optimistic about life. How do they do this?

Plants have been shown to lower blood pressure due to their stress-relieving nature. They can also help block outdoor noise from traffic or construction, which also reduces stress. One organization says that plants not only increase your self-esteem, but they can also make you feel happier. For best results, place one large plant every 10 square meters around your home.

Promote restful sleep
For a good night’s sleep, try adding a snake plant to the corner of your room. Unlike most plants, snake plants release oxygen during the night. This helps to keep the air flow fresh, which contributes to sound sleep. You could even try the gerbera daisy.

House plants can beautify your home as well as provide many health benefits, so go out and get some today. They will not make you feel better, but also make your home more elegant.

Language Lab
construction n.
the business of building things (such as houses or roads)
- You need to wear helmets to enter the construction site.
- The museum is a modern construction which is the city's landmark.

self-esteem n.
a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities
- A loving and nourishing learning environment can build a child's self-esteem.
- Even though Robin is pretty and talented, she still suffers from low self-esteem.

beautify v.
to make (something) beautiful or more beautiful
- The government is determined to beautify the city with a large city park.
beauty n.
- The beauty of the sunset was captured by this photo.

elegant adj.
showing good taste : graceful and attractive
- The bride looks elegant and beautiful in her wedding gown.
- The elegant manners of the old lady attracted my attention.
elegance n.
- There's an atmosphere of elegance in this restaurant.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150425baa176fa1d83a35b3689ad63456b2e5a0c49f4ee43136272d120c6ae89738110529.wma