SEEDS ARTICLES 2021

Article 42: Pandemic

An epidemic is a sudden disease outbreak that affects a large number of people in a
particular region, community, or population. A pandemic occurs when an epidemic spreads to a
larger region, or across multiple nations or continents. An epidemic, and later pandemic, of an
infectious disease can happen if the virus, bacteria, or other cause of the disease has recently
grown stronger, is introduced somewhere it has never been before, is newly transmitted to a
place where more people are exposed to it, or finds new ways to enter the bodies of those it is
affecting. It can also happen if people somehow grow more susceptible to the cause of the
disease or have greater exposure to it.

Pandemics often are caused by viruses that start in animals and later infect humans.
HIV/AIDS is an example of an ongoing pandemic. Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the agent
that attacks and weakens a person’s immune system. AIDS was first recognized as a new
disease in 1981, as young homosexual men died as a result of unusual infections and cancers.
HIV/AIDS mainly spreads through sexual contact, but can be transmitted through body fluids
like blood and semen.

www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/pandemic/

WORD LIST

1. outbreak - wabak plague
2. region - kawasan area
3. continents - benua landmasses
4. transmitted - disebarkan transfered
5. susceptible - terdedah permitting
6. exposure - pendedahan vulnerability
7. weakens - melemahkan tires
8. unusual - ganjil uncommon
9. spreads - merebak transmits
10. fluids - cecair liquids

Article 43: Pollutions Threaten Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, India’s greatest landmark, is in danger of being damaged by air and
water pollution. Agra, where the Taj Mahal stands, has been polluted heavily by industries and
traffic over the past decades.

Illegal factories are springing up around the Taj Mahal and
uncontrolled construction around the monument seems to be endless. Ground
water levels are sinking because the population around Agra is growing and needs more and
more water. The wooden foundations of the monument may collapse because they are
becoming too dry. The Yamuna River, which runs through Agra, is heavily polluted by industries
around the capital Delhi.

The government realised the growing problem and started a program to save the
monument’s shiny white marble façade because it was turning yellow. Over $150 million were
spent on restoration but it did not help much. Corrosion has continued and acid rain has also
caused a change in the colour of the façade.

The government and city authorities have taken measures to protect India’s greatest
sight. Pollution stations around Agra monitor air quality around the clock. Car traffic has
been banned within two kilometres of the monument.

www.english-online.at/news-articles/environment/pollution-endangers-taj-mahal.htm

WORD LIST - mercu tanda marker/indicator
1. landmark - dekad periods of ten years
2. decades - membangun emerging
3. springing up - tenggelam going down
4. sinking - tapak asas bases
5. foundations - runtuh crumble
6. collapse - fakad frontage
7. façade - hakisan erosion
8. corrosion - pihak berkuasa officials
- dihalang prohibited
9. authorities
10. banned

Article 44. Reducing Food Waste Helps Fight Climate Change

Reducing wasted food would probably help lower dangerous emissions into
the atmosphere and slow down climate change, according to experts. Over 15% of emissions
from farming and agriculture could be avoided if we managed our food supplies better. About
3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide comes from food waste.

A third of the food produced worldwide is never eaten. It gets spoilt during day-long
transport or in shops. Huge amounts of food are also thrown away by consumers, who often buy
too many things which they do not eat. While the demand for food per person has stayed the
same in the last decades, more and more food is available.

It is not only important to waste less food but also to get food to the places where it is
needed, where people do not have enough to eat or farming conditions are bad.

Heads of governments and agriculture ministers from around the world have recently met
to discuss ways in which food waste can be reduced. Currently, we are producing 20% more food
than we actually need. With such a surplus we could feed another 1.5 billion people. On the
other side, over 800 million people suffer from undernourishment.

www.english-online.at/news-articles/environment/reducing-food-waste-fights-climate-change.htm

WORD LIST - mengurangkan lessening
1. reducing
2. climate - iklim weather
3. avoided
4. worldwide - dielakkan prevented
5. consumers
6. demand - serata dunia global
7. conditions
8. surplus - pembeli-pembeli customers
9. suffer
10. undernourishment - permintaan request

- keadaan situations

- lebihan excess

- menderita endure

- kekurangan zat makanan underfeeding

Article 45: Trees Are Our Best Friends

Trees are one of the greatest blessings for humans. However, humans tend to forget this
fact. They fail to recognise their significance and continue to exploit them endlessly for short-
term benefits.

Just like our friends, trees also come in our use in various ways. They give us
their fruits, flowers, herbs and more. It is impossible for human life to function without trees as
they belong to the category of principal sources of oxygen on earth. They even help in preventing
natural calamities like droughts and floods.

Despite holding such a great significance in our lives, humans have been overexploiting
trees for the longest time. This constant practice can prove to be extremely devastating for the
earth and human life, both. For instance, the industrial sector is cutting down trees rapidly for
attaining raw materials in bulk. Subsequently, even governments are contributing to
deforestation by clear-cutting in order to build huge buildings.

To sum it up, as life gets hard without our best friend, the same will happen with the lack
of trees too. The least we can do for trees is save them from being cut down. Without trees, this
planet will turn into a desert.

www.toppr.com/guides/essays/trees-are-our-best-friend/

WORD LIST - mengenali realise
1. recognise - exploitasi take advantage of
2. exploit - faedah profits
3. benefits - pelbagai different
4. various - menghalang stopping
5. preventing - bencana disasters
6. calamities - membinasakan damaging
7. devastating - mendapatkan getting
8. attaining - penebangan hutan logging
9. deforestation - kekurangan insufficient
10. lack

Article 46: Greta Thunberg’s Speech

Greta Thunberg is an internationally known Swedish environmental activist who began
her activism by missing school to protest the insufficient response of governments and the
business sector to climate change. In December 2018, just a few months after starting her strike,
Greta spoke in a sobering speech during the United Nations COP24 Climate Change Conference
in Poland. The following is an excerpt of her speech:

“…Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people
to continue making enormous amounts of money. Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich
people in countries like mine can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the
luxuries of the few.

In the year 2078, I will celebrate my 75th birthday. If I have offspring maybe they will
spend that day with me. Maybe they will ask me about you. Maybe they will ask why you opted
to do nothing while there still was time to act. You say you cherish your children above all else,
and yet you are stealing their future right before them.”

englishclub.com/reading/environment/climate-activist-greta

WORD LIST - kempen aktivis social campaign
1. activism - tidak mencukupi lacking
2. insufficient - menyedarkan thought-provoking
3. sobering - petikan part of
4. excerpt - biosfera; ekosistem global global environment
5. biosphere - penderitaan hardships
6. sufferings - anak-anak descendants
7. offspring - memilih chose
8. opted - menghargai treasure
9. cherish - di depan in front of
10. right before

Article 47: Piranhas

Scientists in the UK have announced that the piranha fish's reputation as a fearsome killer

may well not be deserved. The fish, which is found in the Amazon in Brazil, have been portrayed

as deadly carnivores that work in shoals to kill their prey and strip it of its flesh in seconds.

However, experts from St. Andrews University say that piranhas are omnivores that mainly

consume fish, plants and insects. They form big groups not to hunt but to shield themselves

against other predators, according to the team.

"Previously it was thought piranhas shoaled as it enabled them to form a cooperative hunting

group," said Professor Anne Magurran. "However, we have concluded that it is primarily a

defensive behaviour."

Piranhas can be assaulted by animals such as dolphins, caimans and large fish, so forming

a shoal is a good way of evading death. Piranhas of reproductive age stay in the middle of the

group for protection and the size of the shoal differs according to the level of risk. When the water

level is high, the fish form small groups as there is space to make their escape, but when the

water level drops, they form large groups as protection against predators.

WORD LIST - menakutkan usingenglish.com/comprehension/41
1. fearsome - digambarkan
2. portrayed - kumpulan (ikan) terrifying
3. shoals - makan described
4. consume - melindungi schools (of fish)
5. shield - pemangsa eat
6. predators - memutuskan defend
7. concluded - diserang hunters
8. assaulted - mengelak decided
9. evading - menyelamatkan diri attacked
10. make their escape avoiding
flee for safety

Article 48: Coldplay Goes Green

The renowned rock band Coldplay has announced it will not be going on tour to promote
its latest album because of the environmental harm touring might cause.

It is standard business practice in the music industry for famous artists to go on a world
tour to accompany a new album release. Concert tours are more often than not huge money-
spinners and can generate more profits than actual music sales. Coldplay has decided any
concert tour would have a detrimental impact on the environment.

Coldplay band members said they are taking some time off to look at options on how they
can tour in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Mr Martin said: "We're taking
time to see how our tour can be actively beneficial. Our next tour will be the best possible version
of [our last tour] environmentally. We would be discontented if it's not carbon neutral." He asked:
"How do we turn [touring] around so it's not so much taking as giving?"

The band's new double album, "Everyday Life," was released on November 22. It
showcases their feelings about the environment. Coldplay will do a one-off performance for their
fans in London. All of the proceeds from this concert will be donated to an environmental charity.

breakingnewsenglish.com/1911/191123-concert-tour

WORD LIST - dikenali well-known
1. renowned - kerosakan/kecederaan damage
2. harm - biasa normal
3. standard - bahaya dangerous
4. detrimental - mudah dipelihara easy to maintain
5. sustainable - membawa kebaikan useful
6. beneficial - tidak puas hati dissatisfied
7. discontented - mempersembahkan shows
8. showcases - sekali unrepeatable
9. one-off - hasil jualan profit
10. proceeds

Article 49: London in the Sea?

Scientists now say that many parts of London will be at serious risk from flooding by the
sea. It's not all of London that is in danger; and they won't be under water all the time; just when
there are very high tides. The low-lying suburbs beside the Thames in the East End of London
are already protected from high tides by a massive barrier that stretches right across the river;
but more defences will be needed along the banks of the Thames to protect a larger area to the
north of the river, and further east.

During the first ten years of the Thames barrier, it was closed, on average, just once a
year. Some years it was never closed at all. The level of the sea is getting steadily higher. There
are more people, more roads, and more infrastructure. Today, in southeast England, land is so
expensive, that people build everywhere – even in places that are liable to be flooded.

Scientists also say that global warming will lead to warmer and drier summers in the south
east of England. This will cause major changes in vegetation, and several species of native
wildlife will not be able to survive.

linguapress.com/intermediate/london-flood

WORD LIST - membanjiri swamping
1. flooding - air pasang rise and fall of the ocean
2. tides - pinggir bandar outskirts
3. suburbs - tebing sungai delta
4. banks - purata median
5. average - secara konsisten constantly
6. steadily - infrastruktur basic structure
7. infrastructure - berkemungkinan likely
8. liable - tumbuhan plant-based
9. vegetation - jenis-jenis types
10. species

Article 50: Endangered Species

In spring 2008, the polar bear was placed on the endangered species list. According to
the USA's Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is an animal, plant or any other kind
of wildlife that is likely to face extinction in its natural habitat. Polar bears had already been
categorised as a "threatened" species which the ESA defines as one that is likely to become
"endangered" in the foreseeable future.

The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as endangered due primarily
to global warming. Global warming is a form of climate change caused by increased levels of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that become trapped in the atmosphere. Oil and
gas heaters, engines using oil or petrol (or gasoline) and coal-powered electricity plants all
require fossil fuels that lead to global warming.

Renewable energy sources or renewables that do not cause global warming include
solar, wind and hydro-electricity power. These alternative forms of power, as well as the science
of climate change, have been strongly attacked by many of the world's biggest companies in order
to protect the huge profits they make from fossil fuels.

englishclub.com/reading/environment/endangered-species

WORD LIST - spesies terancam threatened species
1. endangered species - hidupan liar fauna
2. wildlife - kepupusan disappearance
3. extinction - tempat tinggal domain
4. habitat - pemanasan global greenhouse effect
5. global warming - gas-gas rumah hijau carbon emissions
6. greenhouse gases - bahan api natural gases
7. fossil fuels - boleh diperbaharui sustainable
8. renewables - pengganti selection
9. alternative - keuntungan gains
10. profits

Article 51: The Disappearing Honeybee

Bees are mysteriously disappearing in many parts of the world. Most people don't know
about this problem. It is called “colony collapse disorder" (CCD). Some North American
beekeepers lost 80% of their hives from 2006-2008. Bees in Italy and Australia are disappearing
too.

The disappearance of the honeybee is a serious problem. Can you imagine never eating
another blueberry? What about almonds and cherries? Without honeybees food prices
will skyrocket. The poorest people always suffer the worst when there is a lack of food. This
problem affects other foods besides fresh produce. Imagine losing your favourite ice cream!
Haagen Daaz is a famous ice cream company. Many of their flavours rely on the hardworking
honeybee. In 2008, Haagen Daaz began raising money for CCD. They also funded a garden at
the University of California called The Haven.

Donating money to research is the most important thing humans can do to save the
honeybee. Scientists need money to investigate the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. Some
scientists blame CCD on climate change. Others think pesticides are killing the bees.
Commercial bee migration may also cause CCD. Beekeepers transport their hives from place to
place in order to pollinate plants all year round.

englishclub.com/reading/environment/honeybee

WORD LIST - secara rahsia weirdly
1. mysteriously - menghilang vanishing
2. disappearing - kejatuhan crisis
3. collapse - sarang lebah swarms
4. hives - meningkat mendadak escalate
5. skyrocket - kekurangan insufficiency
6. lack - menyumbang contributing
7. donating - menyiasat examine
8. investigate - perubahan iklim global warming
9. climate change - mangangkut carry
10. transport

Article 52: Is Water Crucial in Our Life?

Water is essential for your health. This substance makes up a majority of your body
weight and is involved in many important functions, including flushing out waste from your body
and regulating your body temperature. You get most of your water from drinking beverages, but
food also contributes a small amount to your daily water intake.

Water helps create saliva since it is the main component of saliva. Saliva includes small
amounts of electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes. Your body generally produces enough saliva with
regular fluid intake. However, your saliva production may decrease as a result of age or certain
medications or therapies.

Other than that, water helps regulate your body temperature. Staying hydrated is crucial
to maintaining your body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical
activity and in hot environments. Your sweat keeps your body cool, but your body temperature
will rise if you don’t replenish the water you lose. That’s because your body loses electrolytes
and plasma when it’s dehydrated. If you’re sweating more than usual, make sure you drink plenty
of water to avoid dehydration.

www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/why-is-water-important#saliva

WORD LIST

1. essential - penting necessary
2. substance - bahan matter
3. contributes - menyumbang helps
4. saliva - air liur drool
5. decrease - berkurang lessen
6. regulate - mengatur control
7. rise - meningkat ascend
8. replenish - mengisi semula refill
9. usual - biasa normal
10. plenty - banyak enough

Article 53: Rafflesia

The Rafflesia, also commonly known as corpse flower is the world’s largest bloom in South
East Asia region. Its nickname comes from the incredible stench the plant gives as it blooms.
This largest known individual flower of the Earth is found only in Malaysia, Sumatra, Java &
Kalimantan of Indonesia, southern Thailand, and southern Philippines. The Rafflesia flower is
known for being huge, leathery and speckled five-petaled flower. It has a smell like rotten meat
making it known locally as “corpse flower”. There are 28 known species of Rafflesia and 10
species are listed in the largest flower category in the world.

The huge Rafflesia flower doesn’t in fact have its own roots or stems. Instead, it attaches
itself to a host plant, Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in the undisturbed rain forests to obtain
water and nutrients. It takes 18 months for tissue within the vine to become a small brown bud.
The bud then takes 6-9 months to mature into the size of a cabbage. Then, the brown leaves of
the cabbage-like bud starts to open for another few hours. The flower stays open only for 5-7
days. The rotten smell of the flower is due to the reddish tentacle-like inside the corolla of petals.

mybackyardtour.com/15-things-about-rafflesia/

WORD LIST - bau busuk unpleasant smell
1. stench - berbintik-bintik spotted
2. speckled - rosak spoilt
3. rotten - mayat dead body
4. corpse - melekatkan connects
5. attaches - tidak terganggu uninterrupted
6. undisturbed - memperoleh acquire
7. obtain - batang stalks
8. stems - tunas sprout
9. bud - matang fully bloom
10. mature

Article 54: How Harmful Is Noise To You?

Noise is more than a mere nuisance. At certain levels and durations of exposure, it can
cause physical damage to the eardrum and the sensitive hair cells of the inner ear and result in
temporary or permanent hearing loss, known as noise-induced hearing loss. In addition to
causing hearing loss, excessive noise exposure can raise blood pressure and pulse rates, cause
irritability, anxiety, mental fatigue, interfere with sleep, recreation, and personal communication.
Children living in areas with high levels of noise pollution may suffer from stress and other
problems, such as impairments in memory and attention span. Noise pollution control is
therefore important in the workplace and in the community.

Noise pollution also impacts wildlife. A wide range of animals, including insects, frogs,
birds, and bats, rely on sound for a variety of reasons. Noise pollution can interfere with an
animal’s ability to attract a mate, communicate, navigate, find food, or avoid predators and thus
can even be an existential threat to vulnerable organisms. The problem of noise pollution is
especially serious for marine animals, such as certain whales and dolphins, and much of the
world’s oceans are polluted with chaotic sounds from ships, seismic tests, and oil drills.

WORD LIST - kerosakan www.britannica.com/science/noise-pollution
1. damage
harm

2. temporary - sementara short-term

3. excessive - berlebihan too much

4. fatigue - keletihan exhaustion

5. impairments - kemerosotan deteriorations

6. impacts - kesan-kesan effects

7. variety - pelbagai array

8. interfere - campur tangan intervene

9. navigate - mengawal control

10. vulnerable - lemah weak

Article 55: The Legendary Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona, in full Diego Armando Maradona, (born October 30,
1960, Lanus, Buenos Aires, Argentina—died November 25, 2020, Tigre, Buenos Aires),
Argentine football player who is generally regarded as the top footballer of the 1980s and one of
the greatest of all time. Renowned for his ability to control the ball and create scoring
opportunities for himself and others, he led club teams to championships in Argentina, Italy, and
Spain, and he starred on the Argentine national team that won the 1986 World Cup.

Maradona displayed football talent early, and at age eight he joined Las Cebollitas (“The
Little Onions”), a boys’ team that went on to win 136 consecutive games and a national
championship. His career with the Argentine national team included World Cup appearances in
1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994. He dominated the 1986 competition in Mexico. In a 2–1 quarterfinal
victory over England, he scored two of the most memorable goals in World Cup history. The first
was scored with his hand (the referee mistakenly thought the ball had struck his head), a goal
now remembered as the “Hand of God” goal. The second occurred after Maradona gained
possession of the ball at midfield and dribbled through a pack of English defenders and past the
keeper before depositing the ball in the goal.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diego-Maradona

WORD LIST

1. regarded - dianggap considered

2. renowned - terkenal highly honoured

3. scoring - menjaring gaining points

4. starred - membintangi played important role

5. consecutive - berturut-turut following one after the other

6. appearances - mengambil bahagian participation

7. dominated - menguasai conquered

8. memorable - diingati worth remembering

9. possession - pemilikan ownership

10. depositing - meletakkan placing

Article 56: Why is the moon called the moon?

The origin of the moon’s name is a very interesting story. Humans have been aware of this great
white orb in the sky ever since they first roamed the Earth.

The moon’s appearance changes as the months pass. It moves through phases from full moon
to new moon and back again.

Where did the word come from?

The Earth has just one moon. It is best known as the moon in the English-speaking world because
people in ancient times used the moon to measure the passing of the months.

The word moon can be traced to the word mōna, an Old English word from medieval
times. Mōna shares its origins with the Latin words metri, which means to measure, and mensis,
which means month.
So, we see that the moon is called the moon because it is used to measure the months.

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-is-the-moon-called-the-moon-127899

WORD LIST - asal beginning
1. origin - bulatan sphere
2. orb - berkeliaran wandered/walked
3. roamed - penampilan outward look
4. appearance - fasa stages
5. phases - kuno old
6. ancient - pergerakan movement
7. passing - ditemui tracked
8. traced - abad pertengahan related to the Middle Ages
9. medieval - ukur assess
10. measures

Article 57: Word of the Year

“Quarantine” has been named the 2020 Word of the Year by Cambridge Dictionary based
on its data that shows it was one of the most highly searched words on its website this year.

Cambridge Dictionary publishing manager Wendalyn Nichols said users have been
searching for words related to the social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Quarantine” was closely followed by “lockdown” and “pandemic” on the shortlist for Word of the
Year.

“The Cambridge Dictionary editors have also tracked how people are using ‘quarantine’,
and have discovered a new meaning emerging: ‘a general period of time in which people are not
allowed to leave their homes or travel freely, so that they do not catch or spread a disease’, ” it
added.

The publisher, which is part of the University of Cambridge and publishes the English
dictionary, said research shows the word is being used synonymously with “lockdown”,
particularly in the United States, to refer to a situation in which people stay home to avoid
catching the disease.
The Cambridge Dictionary editors regularly monitor a wide range of sources for new words and
meanings that are added monthly to the online dictionary.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/26/

WORD LIST - maklumat factual information
1. data

2. impact - kesan effect/impression

3. lockdown - penyekatan trapped

4. tracked - mengesan trace/follow

5. quarantine - kuarantin confinement

6. emerging - muncul rising / appearing

7. synonymously - secara sama maksud with the same meaning

8. catching - menjangkiti get

9. monitor - memantau keep track of

10. wide range - pelbagai variety

Article 58: The Wooden Leg

Mark only saw it by itself at night, when she would remove it and lean it against the wall
before going to sleep in her bedroom, while he slept on the sofa bed in the living room.

For years, the leg was taller than he was. In the dark, shadowed by the street light, his
mother’s prosthesis resembled a wooden man watching him. And to Mark, it was strange the
way the leg would slide off like a long white glove, then in the morning his mother would pull it
back on again and leave for work. She had been walking on an artificial leg since losing her real
leg at 17.

San Francisco’s streets are steep and slippery. His mother fell many times when he was
with her. Usually, Mark could help her get back up. Once, though, her wooden leg snapped, and
she collapsed on the sidewalk. It was raining and people kept hurrying past. A few paused to
look at them, but not one walked over to help her get up. It was as though his mother and he were
marooned on an island of shame with the wooden leg.

http://200wordshortstory.org/the-wooden-leg-story-by-stewart-lindh/

WORD LIST - bersandar rest against
1. lean - alat yang menggantikan bahagian device to replace missing part of
2. prosthesis the body
badan yang tiada looked like
3. resembled - menyerupai fake
4. artificial - tiruan almost vertical slope
5. steep - curam broke
6. snapped - patah fell
7. collapsed - jatuh pavement
8. sidewalk - kaki lima isolated
9. marooned - dipinggirkan feeling disgrace
10. shame - rasa dimalukan

Article 59: Cultural Behaviour in Business

Much of today's business is conducted across international borders, and while the majority
of the global business community might share the use of English as a common language,
the nuances and expectations of business communication might differ greatly from culture
to culture. A lack of understanding of the cultural norms and practices of our business
acquaintances can result in unfair judgements, misunderstandings and breakdowns in
communication.
An American or British person might be looking their client in the eye to show that they are
paying full attention to what is being said, but if that client is from Japan or Korea, they might
find the direct eye contact awkward or even disrespectful. In parts of South America and
Africa, prolonged eye contact could also be seen as challenging authority. In the Middle
East, eye contact across genders is considered inappropriate, although eye contact within
a gender could signify honesty and truthfulness. Having an increased awareness of the
possible differences in expectations and behaviour can help us avoid cases of
miscommunication, but it is vital that we also remember that cultural stereotypes can be
detrimental to building good business relationships.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/advanced-c1/cultural-behaviour-
in-business

WORD LIST

1.conducted - dijalankan handled
2.nuances - nuansa distinction
3.differ - beza contrast
4.acquaintances - kenalan friend
5.awkward - janggal stiff/uneasy
6.prolonged - berpanjangan lengthened
7.authority - wibawa/imej/air muka rule/control/jurisdiction
8.signify - menandakan imply/stand for
9.vital - penting important
10.detrimental - berbahaya dangerous

Article 60: Buyers, Beware!

From one-day-only sales to free shipping to countdown clocks, online retailers have a
variety of ways to reel you in, get you to load up your cart, and spend more than you had
planned. You’ve seen these tactics before and you’ll see them again, so how can you
actually online shop and stay on budget? According to Jason Goldberg, host of The Jason
& Scot Show, you should “be a hunter, not a gatherer.” That means having a specific
purchase in mind before you head to a website. “Don’t go to sites looking for ideas. That’s
like shopping in a supermarket when you are hungry.”

“Free shipping remains the most effective tactic for e-commerce,” says Goldberg. Retailers
understand that offering up free shipping is a draw. That’s why you’ll often see messages
like, “free shipping with a $35 minimum purchase” or “next-day delivery on orders of $50 or
more” on various retail sites or promotional emails. Getting shoppers to hit a spending
threshold – oftentimes by adding things they don’t really need to their carts – and waiving
shipping costs helps companies increase sales. “Most people would rather spend more
money buying things they don’t need than pay for shipping costs,” money-saving expert
Andrea Woroch told Business Insider.

https://www.rdasia.com/food-home-garden/money/sneaky-ways-online-retailers-
get-you-to-spend-more

WORD LIST - penghantaran delivery
1.shipping - kira turutan ke bawah launch process/procedure
2.countdown - menarik pull in
3.reel in - strategi strategies
4.tactics - terus continue to
5.stay on - penjual/peniaga sellers/merchants
6.retailers - menarik attraction
7.draw - hujung/ambang edge
8.threshold - mengetepikan set aside
9.waiving - pakar specialist
10.expert

Article 61: Malaysian Food: A Fusion of Fantastic Flavours

Malaysia may draw tourists for its stunning beaches, world class scuba diving,
shopping, spectacular natural scenes, and lovable monkeys – but it’s Malaysian food that
really draws people to the country. Malaysian food is a dizzying blend of Asia’s finest
traditions that oftentimes surpasses the dishes that inspired it. The curries of India, fragrant
rice of Thailand, noodles of China, and barbecued meat that is a signature of South Korea
all blend together in a mouth-watering symphony of taste.

First among these in many people’s eyes is laksa, a curry so rich in flavours that it
really does defy description. Thin rice noodles in a slightly sweet coconut curry sauce act
as a base into which meat or seafood are added along with cilantro and a squeeze of lemon
juice. It’s a far more subtle experience than an Indian curry, and every bit as flavourful as
the more famous Thai curries. A carnivore? Malaysian food is famous for its satay: a tangy,
slightly sweet peanut sauce atop chicken or beef is a popular street food in Malaysia. Similar
to the chicken or beef on a stick you’ll find in any Korean street late at night, satay should
be a fast favourite with any visitor.

https://www.aussieontheroad.com/malaysian-food-a-fusion-of-fantastic-
flavors/

WORD LIST - memukau splendid
1.stunning - hebat remarkable
2.spectacular - pening ( bercampur) blurry
3.dizzying - terbaik best/premium
4.finest - melepasi better than
5.surpass - istimewa special
6.signature - sedap delicious
7.mouth-watering - melawan/menentang oppose
8.defy - halus/tidak jelas refined
9.subtle - masam sharp- tasting /sour
10.tangy

Article 62: Kidnapped Brides in Lombok

In the old days, grooms in pristine island of Lombok, Indonesia actually broke in to homes, tip-
toeing and making sure the bride wouldn’t wake up her family, since a failed kidnapping scheme
would mean no marriage, and the groom would be a subject of embarrassment.

In the old days, when dating were not a custom, a groom could actually kidnap a bride who is
completely unfamiliar with him. You might wonder how a woman would want to willingly follow an
unknown man back to his home. The answer to that curiosity is a mystical spell which put the
bride in a trance throughout the entire thing. Once the bride arrives in the groom’s house, a
marriage is almost guaranteed, since it would be dishonourable for the bride to refuse at this
point.

The laws for a woman to marry in the Lombok tradition is not really about the age, nor their ability
to cook. It is their ability to weave a cloth. Girls are taught to weave from a young age. A single
cloth usually takes about 2 weeks to a month to complete.

https://www.talesfromjes.com/kidnapped-brides-in-lombok-a-wedding-tradition/

WORD LIST

1. Pristine - terpelihara unspoiled
plan
2. Scheme - rancangan shame
norm
3. Embarrassment - rasa malu be surprise
interest
4. Custom -kebiasaan magic
daze
5. Wonder -hairan cause shame
interlace yarns
6. Curiosity - kepelikan

7. Mystical - mistik

8. Trance - dipukau

9. Dishonourable - memalukan

10. Weave - menenun

Article 63: Sky Burials

Sky burial isn’t a burial at all, of anything. It is the act of leaving a corpse exposed to the elements,
often in an elevated location. It can be shocking to see — ex-human beings being
dispassionately dragged up a mountain, chopped up, and thrown to a venue of waiting vultures.

One of the main tenets of Buddhism is compassion. So the idea at work here is that, if your body
is just a shell for your spirit, which will be reincarnated anyway, and if your spirit has left it and it
could nourish another creature, then it should. It’s considered important to not waste the
opportunity to help another living thing.

Once the body is kept in a sitting position for two days and a lama recites the necessary prayers,
the corpse’s spine is broken so that it can be folded and carried to the sky burial site. The corpse
is placed face-down on the stones, its hair removed, and the ropyagas begin to chop up the limbs
with axes or sledgehammers, sometimes flaying meat from bones and throwing it to the waiting
vultures.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sky-burial

WORD LIST

1. Burial - pengebumian funeral
dead body
2. Corpse - mayat raised
lack of emotion
3. Elevated - ditinggikan eagles, hawks
belief
4. Dispassionately - tanpa emosi kindness
feed
5. Vultures - helang narrates
striping the skin
6. Tenet - prinsip

7. Compassion - belas kasihan

8. Nourish - memberi makan

9. Recites - membaca

10. Flaying - menyiat kulit

Article 64: Matriarchal Societies

Who rules the world? Girls! While the Amazons may have been a mythological band of women
who ruled Themyscira, there are many matriarchal societies around the world today where women
are in charge. Many scholars believe that this is the way human society originally was; millions
of years ago women were revered as high priestesses, though sometime around 3,000 BC the
balance of power shifted over towards men.

Today, a Chinese ethnic group known as Mosuo sees children take the last name of their mother
and property is inherited through the female side of the family. Women of the Minangkabau of
West Sumatra are the same, and while led by a male chief, it is the women who have the power
to choose and remove him from power. Similarly, the Bribri of Costa Rica, Garo of North East
India, and Nagovisi of New Guinea are all matriarchal societies. While most matriarchal societies
are home to both women and men, there are some which are female-only. The Umoja tribe in
northern Kenya has actually all out banned men. The community is a refuge where survivors of
gender based violence can establish a safe existence.

https://www.insureandgo.com.au/travel-hub/women-roles-different-parts-world.jsp

WORD LIST

1. Mythological - lagenda legend

2. Matriarchal - diketuai perempuan led by female

3. In charge - berkuasa in power

4. Scholars - cendekiawan experts

5. Revered - dihormati respected

6. Priestesses - pendeta wanita a women priest

7. Inherited - diwarisi passed down

8. Banned - diharamkan prohibited

9. Refuge - tempat perlindungan shelter from harm

10. Establish - membina build

Article 65: Language Acquisition in Babies

Some people tend to think that language and communication are abilities that are normally
developed several months after the birth of a child. In reality, children are already able to hear
voices, noises and even music way long before. New-borns seem to be able to distinguish not
only their own mother’s voice from other voices, but also all the voices and music they have heard
more frequently while in the uterus. When it comes to bi-national parents who speak two different
languages, research has showed that bilingual kids tend to develop more skills than “normal”
children.

At the beginning of their lives and this is since their first seconds, all newborns have only one way
to communicate, which is crying. Crying is an innate ability that begins to be diversified already
in the first weeks of life, in order to express different kinds of needs and emotions, such as hunger
or pain. Another interesting innate ability of newborns is that of smiling. We know that they don’t
really have a reason, being not yet capable of understanding and assimilating positive feelings
rationally. Still, they can feel these positive feelings and offer huge smiles to those who may be
near to them!

https://www.translit.ie/blog/facts-mystery-child-language-acquisition/

WORD LIST

1. Acquisition - pemerolehan accomplishment

2. Abilities - kebolehan capability

3. Distinguish - membezakan differentiate

4. Frequently - kerap repeatedly

5. Bilingual - fasih 2 bahasa fluent in 2 languages

6. Develop - memperolehi acquire

7. Innate - kebolehan semulajadi natural talent

8. Diversified - dipelbagaikan expanded

9. Express - meluahkan show

10. Assimilating - menerapkan absorb

Article 66: The Last Nomadic Penan

Penan are one of the last such peoples remaining as hunters and gatherers. The Penan
are noted for their practice of ‘molong’, which means never taking more than necessary. Most
Penan were nomadic hunter-gatherers until the post-World War II missionaries settled many of
the Penan, mainly in the Ulu-Baram district but also in the Limbang district. They eat plants, which
are also used as medicines, and animals and use the hides, skin, fur, and other parts for clothing
and shelter.

Some, typically the younger generations, now cultivate rice and garden vegetables but
many rely on their diets of sago (starch from the sago palm), jungle fruits and their prey which
usually include wild boar, deer, snakes, monkeys, birds, frogs, monitor lizards, snails and even
insects such as locusts. Since they practice 'molong', they pose little strain on the forest: they
rely on it and it supplies them with all they need. Everything that is caught is shared as the Penan
have a highly tolerant, generous and egalitarian society, so much so that it is said that the
nomadic Penan have no word for 'thank you' because help is assumed and therefore doesn't
require a 'thank you'.

https://www.varialstudio.com/thelastnomadicpenans

WORD LIST - nomad / pindah randah wandering / migratory
1. Nomadic - pemburu-pengumpul savage / barbarian
2. Hunter-gatherers - kulit binatang the skin of animal
3. Hides - menetap make one’s permanent home
4. Settled
somewhere - menanam plough / farm
5. Cultivate - mangsa hunt/ catch
6. Prey - ketegangan tension / pressure
7. Strain - toleransi open-minded
8. Tolerant - murah hati lavish
9. Generous - orang yang adil fair / equal right people
10. Egalitarian

Article 67: Famadihana

Famadihana is a funerary tradition of the Malagasy people in Madagascar. During this
ceremony, people bring forth the bodies of their ancestors from the family crypts, rewrap the
corpses in fresh cloth, and rewrite their names on the cloth so they will always be remembered.
Then they dance to live music while carrying the corpses over their heads and go around the
tomb before returning the corpses to the family tomb.

Famadihana appears to be a custom of somewhat recent origin, perhaps only since the
17th century in its present form, although it may be an adaptation of premodern double funeral
customs from Southeast Asia. The custom is based upon a belief that the spirits of the dead finally
join the world of the ancestors after the body's complete decomposition and appropriate
ceremonies, which may take many years. In Madagascar, this became a regular ritual usually
once every seven years, and the custom brings together extended families in celebrations of
kinship, sometimes even those with troubled relations.

The practice of Famadihana is on the decline due to the expense of silk shrouds and
belief by some Malagasy that the practice is outdated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famadihana

WORD LIST - pengkebumian burial
- ruangan tombs
1. Funerary - bangkai / mayat carcass
2. Crypts - kubur burial place
3. Corpses - adaptasi alteration / modification
4. Tomb - zaman moden contemporary
5. Adaptation - penguraian / pereputan decay /rotting
6. Premodern - kekeluargaan relationship
7. Decomposition - kain kafan winding sheet
8. Kinship - merosot / menolak reject / decrease
9. Shroud
10. Decline

Article 68: Restrictions in North Korea

In North Korea, tourists are not allowed to use the local national currency of North Korean
wons. In local shops for foreigners, one can pay with euros, yuans, South Korean wons, and
even US dollars. It is prohibited to buy anything from the shops for local Koreans. Moreover,
foreigners are prohibited even to enter such shops.

In addition, North Korean citizens cannot buy an international airplane ticket and fly to
another country for vacation. Not because it is very expensive, but because it is forbidden. This
travel restrictions are also applied inside the country. To visit your relatives in another town or a
village, you have to receive permission. However, some North Koreans still can go abroad to
China or Russia but only to earn money.

Despite popular opinion, a local citizen will not be jailed or executed for a conversation
with a foreigner. However, the delinquent will have a serious talk with special service
representatives. If you try to talk to someone or take a photo of them, they will probably run away
from you. It is actually forbidden to take photos of anything around you. A guide who
accompanies all foreigners will stop you.

https://brightside.me/wonder-curiosities/15-bans-and-restrictions-you-can-only-find-in-north-korea-
386960/

WORD LIST

1. not allowed - tidak dibenarkan forbidden

2. local shops - peniaga tempatan community business

3. prohibited - dilarang forbade / banned

4. forbidden - dilarang prohibited / banned

5. restriction - sekatan limitation

6. abroad - luar negara overseas

7. executed - dibunuh killed

8. Delinquent - pesalah offenders

9. Accompanies - menemani go with / go along with

10. Foreigner - orang asing /orang luar non-native / outsider

Article 69: Penang Asam Laksa

Long before CNN declared it is as the #7 World’s Most Delicious Food, asam laksa has
been drawing tourists to Penang just for a taste. A spicy, flowery, minty, sweet, sour, fishy noodle
soup that has no comparison. A dish that Penangites should appreciate for its relation to their
culture and history. But sometimes we tend to forget as we slurp up the last noodle, and scoop
out the last drops of the thick soup. That smooth round rice noodles immersed in a broth of a
seemingly chaotic mix of spices and flavors, thickened with mackerel fish and sour tamarind
peel, and topped with heaps of fresh vegetables and herbs for added texture and color. Finally,
a squeeze of zesty calamansi lime and a spoonful of sweetened shrimp paste.

Who invented such a complex dish? How did someone think of stringing such a
kaleidoscope of ingredients together to create asam laksa?

Many people provide a simple conclusion that the dish is of Peranakan Nyonya origin – a
cross-cultural mix of Malay and Chinese. While that may be partly true, the explanation omits an
important element of asam laksa. That the dish was never created by one person, or one
generation, but it evolved over layers of history.

http://blog.seasonwithspice.com/2011/09/what-is-penang-assam-laksa.html

WORD LIST - tenggelam submerged
- kuah soup
1. Immersed - nampaknya apparently
2. Broth - huru-hara disorderly
3. Seemingly - timbunan pile up
4. Chaotic - kesungguhan aromatic / tangy
5. Heaps - dicipta created
6. Zesty - bertali stretching
7. Invented - pelbagai campuran mixture
8. Stringing - berkembang developed
9. kaleidoscope
10. evolved

Article 70: Siesta

The siesta is one of the most notable aspects of Spanish life—that dead period in the
late afternoon when everything shuts down in Spain, in theory, so people can rest and take a
nap.

The Spanish have taken the siesta very seriously, even going so far as having a sleeping
competition in its honour. Throughout history, there have been many good reasons for having a
siesta time.

Spain is a hot country, especially mid-afternoon, and the traditional reason for the siesta
is for the workers in the fields to shelter from the heat. They would then feel refreshed after their
sleep and would work until quite late in the evening, longer than they would have been able to
without the siesta.

While people do still work outside in Spain, this reason doesn't account for why shops
and businesses in big cities should close down today. Indeed, offices can get hot too, but the
invention of air conditioning has helped in this department. So why do they still do it?

Another reason for the siesta was that there was a law that limited shop trading times
to 72 hours per week and eight Sundays a year. With these limits, it made sense for businesses
to close when many people were hiding from the heat and stay open later.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/why-do-you-sleep-during-siesta-1644327

WORD LIST

1. siesta - tidur siang nap
2. notable - terkenal famous
3. shuts down - tutup close
4. honour - penghormatan respect
5. to shelter - berteduh seek refuge
6. refreshed - segar restored / relaxed
7. quite - agak fairly / rather
8. account - menjelaskan justify / explain
9. trading - dagangan goods exchange
10. made sense - masuk akal sensible / acceptable

Article 71: French and Fragrance

The French have a famously intimate relationship with fragrance. They not only appreciate a
beautifully designed scent, but they also know what to wear when and exactly how to wear it.

We often apply fragrance to our wrists and rub them together. But if you think about it,
why? Not only is it unnecessary to “spread” fragrance around, but it can also degrade the
experience. Perfume is meant to unfold in front of you from the first spritz, so let the mist naturally
dry down on your skin.

French women wear fragrance as though it is an outfit essential. And for cool Parisians,
it actually is. That means spritzing your wardrobe with your fragrance, scenting a room with a
complementing candle, and bringing a travel-sized fragrance with you when you are on the go.

You have heard that the French always say to put fragrance on your “pulse points.” That
basically means the warmer spots on your body, like your wrists and neck. I suggest one more
spot—let’s call it your waistband—where your body tends to be warmer. It can be your little secret.

https://coveteur.com/2019/11/24/tricks-french-girls-use-apply-fragrance/

WORD LIST

1. intimate relationship - hubungan akrab close connection
menyapu massage
2. rub together - tidak perlu not needed / needless
memusnahkan destroy
3. unnecessary - menyerlahkan take place / develop
semburan spray mist
4. degrade - keperluan necessary
saiz kembara mini sized / trial sized
5. unfold - denyutan heartbeat
lilitan pinggang midsection
6. spritz -

7. essential -

8. travel-sized -

9. pulse -

10. waistband -

Article 72: Wasabi

Wasabi, a perennial plant species from Japan that belongs to the same botanical family as
horseradish and mustard, grows naturally on the banks of streams, water streams and springs
sources located on the cool mountain slopes of some islands in Japan.

Wasabi is a condiment that is part of the Japanese culture and is traditionally used in the
preparation of sushi for more than 400 years. It requires between 18 months and 3 years of care
ideally in pure moving water and in a constant temperature environment to reach optimal size.

The powerful flavour of wasabi blends perfectly with the light and distinct taste of raw
fish. Although its taste is very pungent, the intense flavour of wasabi is similar to horseradish or
mustard. Its taste may catch people off-guard at first because its effects are immediately felt in
the nasal passage, though they quickly dissipate.

To prepare fresh wasabi, sushi chefs grate the root to obtain a green paste that must be
covered immediately otherwise it will lose its flavour. The wasabi root, as well as the fresh wasabi,
are of great rarity and are found only in a small percentage of sushi restaurants in Japan.

https://sushishop.com/sushi-advice/wasabi-origin-and-culture

WORD LIST

1. perennial - sepanjang tahun year-long
2. slopes - cerun hills
3. condiments - perasa seasoning
4. constant - sama, tidak berubah unchanging
5. optimal - terbaik the best
6. distinct - luar biasa unusual
7. pungent - bau yang kuat overpowering
8. dissipate - hilang disperse
9. grate - sagat shred
10. rarity - sukar diperolehi uncommon

Article 73: The Korean Skin Care

Korean culture places a lot of emphasis on natural beauty, which of course starts with your skin.
This not only means preventing problems before they even arise, but also constantly looking for
innovative ingredients and techniques in order to preserve and enhance the youthful qualities of
your skin.

Historically, pristine skin has represented a devotion to self-care that could only be
afforded by the wealthy. Thankfully, Korean brands have worked hard to make many different
options in price ranges available for everyone to access the wonders of Korean skin care.

Korean skin care has become influential around the world and especially in the US
because it is effective. Korean skin care innovation is almost a decade ahead of the rest of the
world. Any ingredients that are good for the skin, any technique that is good for the skin, you can
be sure that Koreans have found it way before anyone else. Also, the highly discerning Korean
consumers fuel the research and development for the most innovative and effective technology
in beauty.

Korean women religiously maintain their skin. They use sun protectors like hats, parasols
and make monthly visits to the dermatologist to keep their skin in top condition.

https://www.foreo.com/mysa/the-korean-skin-care-phenomenon

WORD LIST

1. emphasis - mengutamakan importance
2. innovative - inovatif ground-breaking
3. pristine - sempurna / terbaik unspoiled / best
4. devotion - pengabdian / dedikasi ultimate dedication
5. influential - menjadi ikutan trending
6. discerning - bijak knowledgeable
7. consumers - pelanggan buyers
8. religiously - dengan tekun sentias consistently
9. parasols - tempat teduh shades
10. dermatologist - pakar kulit skin specialist

Article 74: Trust it or not?

Although there is no single definition of superstition, it generally means a conviction in uncanny
forces – such as fate – the desire to influence unpredictable factors and a need to resolve
ambiguity. In this way then, individual beliefs and experiences drive superstitions, which explains
why they are generally irrational and often defy current scientific wisdom. For many people,
engaging with superstitious behaviours provides a sense of control and diminishes anxiety –
which is why levels of superstition increase at times of stress and angst.

Superstitions practices tend to vary across sports, but there are resemblances. Within football,
gymnastics and athletics, for example, competitors reported praying for success, checking
appearance in mirror and dressing well to feel better prepared. Players and athletes also engage
with personalised actions and behaviours – such as wearing lucky clothes, kit and charms.

Notably, basketball legend Michael Jordan concealed his lucky North Carolina shorts under his
Chicago Bulls team kit. Similarly, the tennis legend Björn Bork, reportedly wore the same brand
of shirt when preparing for Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal has an array of rituals that he performs each time he plays. These include the
manner in which he places his water bottles and taking freezing cold showers. Nadal deems
these rituals help him to find focus, flow and perform well.

https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-superstition

WORD LIST - Kepercayaan Belief
- Kuasa ghaib Supernatural
1. Conviction - Ketidakjelasan Uncertainty
2. Uncanny - Melawan Challenge
3. Ambiguity - Mengurangkan Lessens
4. Defy - Kebimbangan Anxiety
5. Diminishes - Persamaan Similarities
6. Angst - Terutamanya Especially
7. Resemblances - Pilihan Selection
8. Notably - Mempercayai Believes
9. Array
10. Deems

Article 75: The Tattooed Lady

Living in a time when it was scandalous even to show a bit of ankle, a small number of
courageous women covered their bodies in tattoos and travelled the country, performing nearly
nude on carnival stages. These gutsy women spun amazing stories for captivated audiences
about abductions and forced tattooing at the hands of savages, but little has been shared of their
real lives.

During the late-19th and early 20th centuries, women chose tattooing to purposely attract a
specific kind of attention. Whether it was at the behest of a spouse already in the carnival or to
get out of the drudgery of a life of servitude, many young women chose to become The Tattooed
Lady – a life explored by Amelia Klem Olmstead in her eponymous book.

Though they spawned a cultural movement almost a quarter of Americans now have tattoos
these women have largely faded into history. The Tattooed Lady uncovers the true stories behind
these women, bringing them out of the sideshow realm and into their working class realities.
Combining thorough research with more than a hundred historical photos, this updated second
edition explores tattoo origins, women's history, circus lore, and includes even more personal and
professional details from modern tattooed ladies. A fascinating read, The Tattooed Lady pays
tribute to a group of unique and amazing women whose legacy lives on.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2974993.Amelia_Klem_Osterud

WORD LIST

1. Scandalous - Memalukan Disgraceful
2. Gutsy - Berani Bold
3. Abductions - Penculikan Kidnappings
4. Savages - Orang yang Kejam Barbarians
5. Behest - Permintaan Request
6. Drudgery - Beban Kerja Labour
7. Eponymous - Dinamakan sempena Nama Named After

8. Spawned Sebenar Initiated
9. Realm - Menggerakkan Territory
10. Lore - Kawasan Wisdom
- pengetahuan

Article 76: The Color Purple

The Color Purple is a novel by Alice Walker, published in 1982. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1983. A
feminist work about an abused and uneducated African American woman’s struggle for
empowerment, The Color Purple was praised for the depth of its female characters and for its
eloquent use of Black English Vernacular.

The Color Purple documents the traumas and gradual triumph of Celie, an African American
teenager raised in rural isolation in Georgia, as she comes to resist the paralyzing self-concept
forced on her by others. Celie narrates her life through painfully honest letters to God. These
are prompted when her abusive father, Alphonso, warns her not to tell anybody but God.

The Color Purple movingly depicts the growing up and self-realisation of Celie, who overcomes
oppression and abuse to find fulfillment and independence. The novel also addresses gender
equality. The theme of the "The Color Purple," is to always stay strong and persevere. In the
beginning of the story Celie got separated from her sister, Nettie, the person she loved the most
but she stayed stoic and waited patiently to get a letter from her sister and be reunited in the end.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Color-Purple

WORD LIST

1. Feminist - Pejuang Hak Wanita Women Activist
2. Empowerment - Hak Kebenaran Ratification
3. Eloquent - Kefasihan Fluent
4. Gradual - Secara berterusan Ongoing
5. Painfully Honest - Kejujuran yang Menyakitkan Brutal Honesty
6. Prompted - Disebabkan oleh Provoked by
7. Depicts - Menceritakan Illustrates
8. Oppression - Penindasan Tyranny
9. Persevere - Bertahan Withstand
10. Stoic - Tidak putus asa Enduring

Article 77: Comfort Foods

Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of to gratify
hunger. We've all been there, finishing a whole bag of chips out of boredom or downing cookie
after cookie while cramming for a big test. But when done a lot — especially without realising it
— emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being.

We all have our own comfort foods. Interestingly, they may differ according to moods and gender.
One study found that happy people seem to want to devour food like pizza, while sad people
prefer ice cream and cookies. Bored people crave salty, crunchy things, like chips. Researchers
also unearthed that boys seem to prefer hot, home-based comfort meals, like steaks and
casseroles. Girls go for chocolate and ice cream.

This can make you wonder: Why does no one take comfort in carrots and celery sticks? High-fat
foods, like ice cream, may stimulate chemicals in the body that create a sense of contentment
and fulfillment. This almost addictive quality may actually make you reach for these foods again
when feeling upset.

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/emotional-eating

WORD LIST

1. Gratify - Memuaskan Satisfy

2. Downing - Makan tanpa henti Consuming

3. Cramming - Bertungkus lumus belajar Studying

4. Differ - Berbeza Vary

5. Devour - Menikmati makanan Eat greedily

6. Unearthed - Dibuktikan Discovered

7. Home-based - Disediakan di rumah Homemade

8. Stimulate - Meransang Activate

9. Contentment - Kepuasan Gratification

10. Addictive - Menyebabkan ketagihan Causing dependency

Article 78: Edo culture

Edo culture, Cultural period of Japanese history corresponding to the Tokugawa period of
governance (1603–1867). Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, chose Edo (present-
day Tokyo) as Japan’s new capital. It became one of the largest cities of its time and was the site
of a thriving urban culture. In literature, Basho, the supreme Japanese haiku poet, who had
greatly enriched the 17-syllable haiku form. Basho made it an accepted medium of artistic
expression. He developed this poetic form later and called it haiku. Meanwhile Ihara Saikaku
composed virtuoso comic linked-verse and humorous novels. In theatre, both kabuki (with live
actors) and bunraku (with puppets) entertained towns people (samurai, for whom theatre-going
was forbidden, often attended in disguise). The development of polychrome woodblock printing
techniques made it possible for ordinary people to obtain prints of popular kabuki actors.
Travelogues extolled the scenic beauty or historic interest of spots in distant provinces, and
temple or shrine pilgrimages.

https://www.britannica.com//event/Edo-culture

WORD LIST

1. governance - pemerintahan rule
2. urban culture - budaya bandar city lifestyle
3. supreme - yang tertinggi higest rank
4. enriched - diperkaya enhanced
5. meanwhile -sementara itu for the meantime
6. virtuoso - luar biasa hebat extremely good
7. entertained -menghiburkan amused
8. forbidden - terlarang not allowed
9. disguise - penyamaran hide
10.extolled - memuji praised

Article 79: Melanau

The Melanaus have been though to be the among the original settlers of Sarawak.
Traditionally lived in tall houses. Nowadays, they have adopted a Malay lifestyle living in the
village type of settlements. Traditionally, Melanaus were fishermen and still today, they are
reputed as some of the finest boat - builders and craftsman. while the Melanaus are ethnically
different from the Malays, their lifestyles and practices are quiet similar. This especially the case
in the larger town or cities were most Melanau have adopted the Islamic faith. The Melanau were
believed to originally summon spirit in a practice verging an paganism. Today most of the
Melanaus community is Muslim whilst some remain Christian, though they still celebrate
traditional animals festival such as the annual Kaul Festival. Despite their different belief and
religion, the Melanaus, like other East Malaysian (Sabah and Sarawak) are very tolerance. One
can still come across a Melanau family with different children in their family embracing Christianity
and Islam while their parents still have strong animist beliefs. In Sarawak, the Dayaks as a whole
can be subdivided into numerous groups. Dayak which means upstream or inland, is used as a
blanket term by the Islamic coastal population for over 200 tribal groups.

https://www.amazingborneo.com/sarawak/people-culture

WORD LIST

1. Settlers - peneroka a pioneer
2. Settlements - petempatan community
3. Reputed - terkenal famous
4. Summon - memuja to call up
5. Verging - bersungguh close
6. Tolerance - bertolak ansur high tolerance
7. Animist - kepercayaan anisme animist beliefs
8. Craftsman – tukang handicrafter / master
9. Subdivided - dibahagikan to divide
10. Blanket term - diklasifikasi common term

Article 80: Maori Culture

Today Maori people live throughout New Zealand, and many are actively involved with
keeping the culture and language alive. Within any Maori community, the marae provides a focus
for social, cultural and spiritual life. The term marae describes a communal ‘plaza’ area that
included wharenui (meeting house) and wharekal (dining room). Maori people define themselves
by their iwi ( tribe ), hapu( sub -tribe ), maunga ( mountain) and awa( river ) Whanauis the name
given to family-the term embraces immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood
ties. In recent year, the introduction of Maori language nests (kohanga reo ) has revived the Maori
language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encourage to speak Maori. Primary and
secondary schools build on this immersion by including Maori in the curriculum. Traditional
carves also help to keep Maori culture alive by creating intricate works that pay respect to the
past. Every place carved tell a story, which can be read by those who know how. The shape of
the heads position of the body as well as the surface pattern work together to record and
remember events. The ancient beliefs of Maori are respected by everyone.

www.tourism.net.nz/about,new

WORD LIST

1. communal - komuniti belonging to /sharing

2.spiritual - rohani beliefs

3.immediate - segera closest relations

4. in-laws - mentua a relative by marriage

5. carves - ukiran design

6. immersion - mendalami engagement

7. intricate - rumit delicate way

8. position - kedudukan placement

9. surface - permukaan atas exterior

10. ancient - kuno early times

Article 81: Turkish Hospitality

Turkish people are very hospitable however stay up late, as a guest is not acceptable.
Starting a meal or tea without invitation of the owner is not recommended, even to smoke a
cigarette without the permission of a senior male or organizer of a meeting is considered impolite.
As for the business etiquette, business meetings are usually preceded by tea.

When it comes to entertainment, the Turks are very musical and love to play music at
every opportunity. A British ambassador in XIXI century remarked that “The Turks will sing and
dance whenever they afford it”’. Much has changed in the country since then but the local still
love music.

Turkish houses are clearly divided for the guest and private areas and to ask for a tour
around the house is impolite. Soles of shoes are considered dirty and when entering any private
house as well as mosque boots and shoes should be taken off. In public places it is possible to
walk in shoes while at crowded public organizations shoes can be folded and be taken inside.

https://www.traveltofethiye.co.uk/about/culture-history/turkish-traditions/

WORD LIST

1. hospitable - layanan baik accomodating

2. impolite - tidak sopan rude

3. preceded - didahului start with

4. Turks - orang Turki a native

5. soles - tapak kaki kasut undersurface

6. private - persendirian personal matters

7. considered - dipertimbangkan possibility

8. crowded - tempat sesak congested

9. folded - dilipat to reduce in size

10. taken inside - dibawa ke dalam bring inside

Article 82: Online Seller 101

Online shopping has become more popular since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and
many have taken the opportunity to earn money through online stores. To become better sellers,
never forget these simple tips that you can practice to be an awesome online seller.

Have good product photography. It entices buyers to click on your products. By utilising
attractive visual content, it can help buyers to efficiently process information in a short amount of
time, and they are more likely to click on your page.

Give a detailed and clear description. When consumers click into your page, they will
then be able to understand better what your product offers, and therefore decide if the product is
something they want to purchase.

Offer reasonable prices. Consumers usually “store-hop” online to find the most affordable
and value-for-money products, therefore do your extensive research against competitors selling
similar products. This ensures that your listing remains relevant and competitive in the market.

Provide good customer service. Give fast and efficient assistance when customers have
questions, and real-time support to fix issues when they face problems shopping at your store.
When you go the extra mile to ensure they have a good shopping experience, they are likely to
revisit your store.

https://shopee.sg/blog/clever-ways-to-sell-better-and-earn-more-money-on-shopee

WORD LIST - wabak outbreak
1. pandemic - peluang chance
2. opportunity - mendorong lures
3. entices - menggunakan using
4. utilising - pengguna users
5. consumers - beli buy
6. purchase - berbaloi bargain
7. value-for-money - meluas broad
8. extensive - secara langsung live
9. real-time - kembali return to
10. revisit

Article 83: Black Friday

Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United
States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Many stores offer highly
promoted sales on Black Friday and open very early, such as at midnight, or may even start their
sales at some time on Thanksgiving.

How did Black Friday get its name? With all the shopping activity that takes place the
Friday after Thanksgiving, the day became one of the most profitable days of the year for
retailers and businesses. Because accountants use black to signify profit when recording each
day's book entries (and red to indicate a loss), the day became known as Black Friday—or the
day when retailers see positive earnings and profits "in the black."

So, Black Friday is now known as a profitable Friday in the retail industry and the rest of
the economy. That's because retail and consumer spending drive almost 70% of U.S. gross
domestic product. Retailers adopted the name to reflect their success. To encourage more
people to shop, retailers began to offer deep discounts only available on that day.

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-black-friday

WORD LIST - tidak rasmi casual
1. informal - yang diiklankan advertised
2. promoted - menguntungkan moneymaking
3. profitable - penjual merchants
4. retailers - melambangkan indicate
5. signify - keuntungan revenues
6. earnings - memacu boost
7. drive - tempatan local
8. domestic - menggunapakai embraced
9. adopted - yang meluas wide
10. deep

Article 84: Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving. It is known for online shopping
deals. It has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, surpassing even Black
Friday.

Over the years, half of all Cyber Monday spending occurred on Monday during normal
business hours. Shoppers are using mobile phones to shop online more than ever. Instead of
starting at 8a.m., Cyber Monday basically begins at midnight and continues throughout the day
as consumers check their mobile devices for deals.

Cyber Monday is expected to be even more popular than ever. In a BlackFriday.com
survey, more than 80% of shoppers said they were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many
stores were scheduled to be closed on Thanksgiving, which may have sent shoppers online
instead. Retailers started offering Cyber Monday sales for the entire week, too.

CyberMonday.com features a schedule of retailers offering deals in a "Deal of the Hour"
promotion. Shoppers can find sales from more than 800 online retailers. Top stores often start
cyber week sales on Thanksgiving Day itself. The best way to get in on their deals is to sign up
for their email newsletters. Deals often consist of free shipping, price discounts, and free gifts
with purchase.

https://www.thebalance.com/cyber-monday-what-it-is

WORD LIST - tawaran offers
1. deals - melepasi exceeding
2. surpassing - berlaku happened
3. occurred - mudah alih portable
4. mobile - seluruh during the course of
5. throughout - dijangka predicted
6. expected - terjejas affected
7. impacted - seluruh whole
8. entire - maya virtual
9. cyber - meliputi comprise
10. consist

Article 85: Making the Most of Online Shopping

Take the time to learn the policies of both online and local stores before making
purchases. Sometimes there are hidden charges like restocking fees, and the restocking fee may
increase the longer it takes you to return an item.

Returning a product to an online store can also be more complicated than returning it to
a local store, requiring you to print labels and make an extra trip to the post office. Some online
retailers like Amazon are simplifying things by allowing you to return items to a local store that
will handle packaging and printing labels.

The small print on return policies will sometimes state that you must pay to ship products
back, even when items are defective. Another point to consider is how repairs are handled on
the products being purchased. It might be easier to return a faulty product to the local store for
repair rather than going through the trouble and expense of shipping it back to an online store.

Reading the customer service policies online and at local stores will provide you with clear
answers on all fees and guarantees. If a store's policies are vague and employees seem
uninformed, consider shopping elsewhere.

https://www.thebalance.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-online-shopping

WORD LIST - dasar strategies
1. policies - tersembunyi unseen
2. hidden - rumit difficult
3. complicated - mempermudahkan easing
4. simplifying - menguruskan manage
5. handle - rosak faulty
6. defective - perbelanjaan cost
7. expense - jaminan assurances
8. guarantees - samar unclear
9. vague - tidak berpengetahuan unaware
10. uninformed

Article 86: The Basic Idea of Financial Literacy
We strive so hard in life to prepare for adulthood. We find jobs so that we can earn money to
make our living. However, does learning in schools and universities make us smart in managing
our own money? Our ability to manage our money by proper budgeting, paying off our debts,
buying and selling things and being able to take care of our expenses can be labelled as financial
literacy.

Financial literacy means we know how to manage our money, and we harness the knowledge by
applying them in our day-to-day life. It can be trivial things such as keeping a track of our
expenses and understanding the need to spend money when we have to. Everything that makes
you a good person with managing money becomes a part of financial literacy.

As human beings, it is not expected of us to know everything about financial management.
However, it is sufficed to be able to manage our money in a way that it does not affect our lives
negatively. Having money should make you independent and self-sufficient in your daily lives.
All in all, remember that money is just a tool for you to live.

https://www.toppr.com/guides/essays/essay-on-financial-literacy/

WORD LIST:

1. strive - berusaha untuk sesuatu work hard for something

2. earn - mendapatkan get

3. budgeting - menggunakan wang dalam jumlah make financial arrangement
4. expenses tertentu
5. harness money used for certain
- perbelanjaan purposes
utilise
- menggunakan

6. trivial - kurang penting / perkara remeh petty
7. expected - diharapkan
regarded as likely or
8. sufficed - memadai/mencukupi anticipated.
enough
9. affect - memberi kesan
have an effect on
10. self-sufficient - berdikari
needing no outside help

Article 87: How to Save Money

If you are already on a tight budget, trying to save anything can be seen as unrealistic. However,
there are many tips you can practise to start amassing more money. Firstly, you can start to save
a few ringgit every now and then. This is a great solution because your wealth can grow over
time. All you have to do is be patient and consistent.

Secondly, a wise plan to save money is to set aside money you have left from expenditure to an
emergency fund. This emergency savings account can be a lifesaver when unexpected
expenses happen at some point. By being prepared for the unexpected, you are putting yourself
in a better spot.

The third tip is very important. You need to stop buying things you do not really need in life. This
seems very easy to do but can be quite a daunting task. Usually, you buy something expensive
because it is the latest trend to do so. However, as a responsible human being, you need to
prioritise your well-being in the first place. It is more important to be able to have food on your
table rather than buying the latest smartphones.

https: //www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/boost-your-financial-awareness/

WORD LIST: - kewangan yang terhad limited
1. tight budget - tidak masuk akal unreasonable
2. unrealistic - mengumpul accumulate
3. amassing - jalan penyelesaian way out
4. solution - bijak knowledgeable
5. wise - perbelanjaan money spent on something
6. expenditure - penyelamat rescuer
7. lifesaver - tidak dijangka unforeseen
8. unexpected - menakutkan overwhelming
9. daunting - mengutamakan take precedence
10. prioritise

Article 88: An Introduction to Consumerism

Consumerism is a cultural idea that promotes the acquisition of goods. This is very true especially
the concept of purchasing goods for personal satisfaction and economic stimulation.
Consumerism is not the same as capitalism. Consumerism is about a pervasive cultural attitude
and not an economic system.

Consumerism relies on making people want to buy more than what they actually need in reality.
The methods on how consumerism work include promotion of luxury items, new technologies and
new models of existing products. Manufacturers are smart because they make products in a way
that they work only for a specific amount of time. This is to encourage consumer to keep buying
and updating their perfectly-working, existing products.

For many in a consumer culture, a functioning smartphone is not adequate. If a new iPhone
model is released, the consumers feel compelled to purchase it. This is to keep up with the latest
and greatest trend at the time. This is also because the media make it so sensational and popular
to keep up with the trend of things. As we consume what is on the media, we tend to believe
whatever the media says. This is the terrifying aspect of consumerism culture.

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/consumerism

WORD LIST:

1. satisfaction - kepuasan fulfilment

2. stimulation - ransangan encouragement

3. pervasive - pengaruh negatif unwelcome influence

4. relies - bergantung depends on

5. manufacturers - orang-orang yang maker
6. encourage menghasilkan sesuatu inspire

- menggalakkan

7. adequate - mencukupi sufficient

8. compelled - terpaksa obligated

9. sensational - mengagumkan popular/amazing

10. terrifying - menakutkan frightening

Article 89: The Good and Bad Side of Consumerism
Consumerism has its pros and cons. It is not all negative. This is partly the reason why
consumerism is very much alive and well in our current era. Firstly, consumerism drives economic
growth. When people spend more on goods and services, the economy undergoes a steady
growth. To make more products to cater to the demands, job opportunities become more and
more accessible. The living standards of people are also bound to improve.

Secondly, since consumers are actively looking for the next-best products and services to buy,
the companies are always under constant pressure to innovate. This usually leads to a positive,
new discovery in technology. The negative aspect is excessive pressure on natural resources
such as water and raw materials. When people demand more products/services, the production
of goods will increase. Usually, this increase in production leads to using more raw materials from
nature.

With more demand for goods and services, people will be in debt. This is because consumerism
pushes people to buy more and discard existing products. This is exacerbated for individuals
who primarily use credit card to shop. They accumulate more debt over time and ended up broke
later in life.

Adapted from: https://swiftmoney.blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-consumerism

WORD LIST:

1. growth - perkembangan progress

2. undergoes - mengalami experience

3. cater - menyediakan provide

4. accessible - mudah didapati readily available

5. constant - sentiasa continuous

6. innovate - mencipta sesuatu yang baru invent

7. excessive - berlebihan too much

8. discard - membuang remove

9. exacerbated - menjadi lebih teruk make the situation worse
10. accumulate - bertambah mount up

Article 90: Ethical Shopping

Since I went to university and started and doing my own shopping, I've been a lot more conscious
about considering the ethical and environmental impact of the products I buy. For example, one
thing that confuses me is why vegetables from abroad are cheaper than those that are locally
grown. Maybe the answer is that workers abroad aren't paid as much as they are in the UK and
it’s cheaper for companies to transport them. It seems ridiculous that we buy vegetables from
abroad when we can buy some that have been grown a few miles away, I buy most of my
vegetables from a local greengrocer and I think this taste much better than vegetables from
abroad.

Going into the supermarket is even more difficult for me. It sometimes feels impossible to only
buy products that are ethical and environmentally friendly. However, there are some fair
trade products which aim to help make better trading conditions and promote sustainability.
They are available in many supermarkets and the range of fair trade products that are available
has made me more aware that it's not just coffee or chocolate that can be fair trade. We can now
get fair trade cotton, flowers, juice, fruit, cakes, biscuits, honey and many more.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/life-around-world/ethical-shopping

WORD LIST - sedar aware
1. conscious - beretika principled
2. ethical - luar negara overseas
3. abroad - pengangkutan deliver
4. transport - tidak masuk akal absurd
5. ridiculous - penjual sayur vegetable seller
6. greengrocer - perdagangan adil managed price
7. fair trade - kemampanan maintainable
8. sustainability - pelbagai jenis variety
9. range - menyedari mindful of
10. aware

Article 91: As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says

Americans and Western Europeans have had a lock on unsustainable over-consumption for
decades. But now developing countries are catching up rapidly, to the detriment of the
environment, health, and happiness, according to the World watch Institute in its annual
report, State of the World 2004.

Perfectly timed after the excesses of the holiday season, the report put out by the Washington,
D.C.-based research organization focuses this year on consumerism run amuck.

Approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide now belong to the "consumer class"—the group of
people characterized by diets of highly processed food, desire for bigger houses, more and
bigger cars, higher levels of debt, and lifestyles devoted to the accumulation of non-essential
goods.

Today nearly half of global consumers reside in developing countries, including 240 million in
China and 120 million in India—markets with the most potential for expansion.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2004/01/consumerism-earth-suffers/

WORD LIST

1. unsustainable - tidak berkekalan unmaintainable
2. consumption - penggunaan utilisation
3. rapidly - pantas fast
4. detriment - kerugian loss
5. excesses - lebihan overload
6. consumerism - kepenggunaan consumption of goods
7. amuck - amuk berserk
8. worldwide - seluruh dunia global
9. reside - menetap live in
10. expansion - pengembangan growth