Tales of Semporna

48 CEFR Level B1 Story 44: Rotten Joanna walked all the way to the capital, pushing a wooden cart full of stone fruit that almost ripe. She carried with her a beautiful wooden market stall that had been in her family for generations. On this stall, she would sell her fruit. When she finally arrived at the city, she was exhausted after months on the road. So far, her plan was a success as she would be selling at the market. Certainly, there was a tax to pay to enter the city gates and even the market fees to be paid. Plus, strange, new foods like hers needed to be officially tested and declared safe before they could be sold. It was not cheap and took days to complete. Joanna then spent all her money on the tests and to raise more money, she was forced to sell her beautiful family stall hoping to withdraw it later. However, while she had been waiting, the perfect, silver stone fruit had turned white. The skin became tough, and their sweet flavour was lost, and she had lost everything. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. capital A2 - pusat bandar centre 2. cart unlisted - kereta sorong wheelbarrow 3. stall B1 - gerai booth 4. exhausted B1 - penat very tired 5. fees B1 - bayaran charge 6. officially C1 - secara rasmi formally 7. declared B1 - diisytiharkan announced 8. raise B1 - menambah earn 9. turned A2 - bertukar become 10. tough B2 - keras hard

49 CEFR Level B1 Story 45: Seat 23A and Seat 23B Mac and Bailey sat next to each other on a flight to the Coast. Both were single, both in their early thirties. Mac asked if Bailey would like the window seat. She said she was fine in the middle, but appreciated the offer. Mac asked if she was headed home. Bailey said Berkeley, he said Sausalito. Over Illinois Mac told her that he designed computer systems. He exaggerated the importance of his work. Bailey told him that she was a location scout. She dropped the names of movie stars she knew. Over Nebraska, she fell asleep on his shoulder. Over Utah he bought her a glass of wine. They talked politics and discovered that they both loved Disney. At the carousel in San Francisco he lifted her suitcase and carried it to the curb. She was driving, he was taking a shuttle. They exchanged names and numbers. Then they embraced, kissed, looked into each other’s eyes, and made promises. And never spoke to each other again. Adapted from: http://200wordshortstory.org/seat-23a-seat-23b-story-by-jim-woessner/ WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. appreciated B2 - menghargai grateful for 2. headed B2 - menuju going 3. designed B1 - mereka created 4. exaggerated C1 - berlebih-lebihan overplayed 5. dropped the names B1 - bermegah-megah boasted about 6. discovered B1 - mengetahui learned 7. lifted B1 - mengangkat picked up 8. shuttle C1 - bas bus 9. exchanged B1 - bertukar-tukar swapped 10. embraced C1 - berpelukan hugged

50 CEFR Level B1 Story 46: The Hand In the last couple of years, time seemed to be moving very fast, seemed almost to be accelerating, and the more she tried to hold on to it, the less of it there was to hold. This was a frightening feeling, a feeling she tried over and over to analyse. On this particular Monday evening, a light rain was falling. She could hear the gentle sound of the drops against the trees outside her window. This morning the rain made her happy, since it reminded her of her childhood in the Philippines, when the yellowish glow from the low-watt bulbs made the rooms look unearthly, and everything in them blurred, as though she were looking at her surroundings from underwater. She remembered sitting at the round table in the kitchen, which was her favourite room in the house, where she sat surrounded by the bustling maids, the sound of people entering and leaving. All day the question had been inside her, waiting. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. accelerating C1 - memecut speeding up 2. frightening B1 - menakutkan scary 3. analyse unlisted - menganalisis evaluate 4. drops B1 - titisan hujan droplets 5. glow C2 - sinaran light 6. bulbs B2 - mentol an electrical light 7. unearthly unlisted - mengerikan eerie 8. blurred unlisted - kabur dim 9. surroundings B2 - persekitaran environment 10. bustling unlisted - kesibukan busy

51 CEFR Level B1 Excerpt 47: Wanted – A Royal Snow-Digger The Fairy Queen has ordered Domino the brownie to find someone who'll dig away the snow from her palace gates. Domino's sure anyone would be pleased as punch to be made the Royal Snow-digger but when he asks Slicker the Grass Snake whether he'd like the job, Snicker tells him that he doesn't know what snow is because his family sleeps right through the winter. How about Dozy the dormouse? Would he like to be the Royal SnowDigger? Of course, not because, like Slicker, he also hibernates during winter. The question is put to a flock of swallows flying past but if the Enid Blyton nature tales are recalled we all know that swallows emigrate south for the cold season. Brock the badger and Spiny the hedgehog is interviewed for the exalted position but they're in the same boat of course. Crawler? Ditto! Bushy? Not really squirrels only wake up from their sleep during the warmer periods of winter, so who's it going to be? Eventually, Domino manages to locate someone to be invested as Royal Snow-Digger with the appropriate badge of office being hung round the candidate's neck. www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. digger C1 - penggali excavator 2. hibernates C2 - Berhibernasi / tidur sleep 3. a flock of swallows B2 - sekawan burung engulf 4. exalted C2 - mengagungkan high 5. Eventually B2 - Akhirnya Finally 6. locate B1 - cari find 7. invested B2 - dilaburkan endow 8. appropriate B2 - sesuai suitable 9. badge B2 - lencana breastpin / button 10. candidate B1 - calon applicant

52 CEFR Level B1 Article 48: Emmeline Pankhurst Emmeline Pankhurst was born in Manchester, in the north of England, in 1858. Back then British women couldn’t vote in elections, but men could. As she grew up, she became interested in politics and wanted to create a more equal society for women and men. She wanted women to have the same rights as men, such as the right to an education, the right to have a good job and most importantly, the right to vote. In 1888, the girls who worked at the Bryant and May match factory in London went on strike. They stopped working and asked the owner of the factory to improve their terrible working conditions. They worked 14 hours a day and were fined for dropping matches on the floor. Many of the girls were ill because they worked with dangerous chemicals. Emmeline supported the strike. Emmeline formed The Women's Social and Political Union, also called the Suffragettes, in 1903. The Suffragettes were a group who fought for women’s rights, especially the right to vote. They published a newspaper called Votes for Women which sold 20,000 copies a week. The Suffragettes also held demonstrations, and they often broke the law by smashing windows or chaining themselves to fences to protest. In 1913, a Suffragette called Emily Davison was killed when she threw herself under the king's horse at a famous horse race, as a protest because the government refused to give women the right to vote. https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. equal B1 - sama rata balance 2. rights B2 - hak political liberty 3. strike B1 - protest force 4. fined B2 - denda punishment 5. formed B1 - membentuk construct 6. Union B1 - Kesatuan Congregation 7. demonstrations A2 - perarakan procession 8. smashing B2 - memecahkan breaking 9. chaining unlisted - mengikat stringing 10. refused B1 - menolak reject

53 CEFR Level B1 Story 49: A Walk in a Futuristic Park I took note of her dressing. Just a year older than my youngest grandchild and she was wearing some bright pink skirt that had tiny LED lights and glowing sequins, that made her look like a neon sign board at night. I snorted at her ignorance. ‘Fake grass, girl. It’s fake grass’. Comparing nature with technological knick-knacks. I spotted a teacher who should have at least tried to educate her students about the realities of nature, freeing from their digital cocoons but instead, she was engrossed with her smart phones, like a lifeless cyborg staring into a world of digits and lights. Three and four drones hovered around her, their controls in her hand, The safety and supervision of the children now in the care of floating shoe boxes with tiny propellers floating in the air. A few decades ago, this would have been unheard of. The teacher would have been charged for negligence. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. dressing A2 - pakaian clothes or attire 2. bright A2 - terang shinning with light 3. ignorance C2 - kejahilan knowing very little 4. fake C1 - tiruan imitation 5. spotted B2 - terpandang to catch a sight 6. realities B2 - kebenaran in fact, actually 7. engrossed C2 - asyik giving all your attention 8. staring B2 - menatap to look hard 9. hovered unlisted - melayang-layang remain in the air without moving 10. supervision C1 - penyeliaan to be in charge of something

54 CEFR Level B1 Story 50: Rapunzel – The Beginning A poor farmer and his wife lived in a humble abode. One unfortunate day, they ran out of food and was very hungry. They peeked into their neighbor’s orchard and noticed it was filled with trees laden with ripening fruits. So, they decided to pluck some without knowing that their neighbor was actually an old, wicked witch. When she saw them, she hollered “How dare you try to steal from me! I’ll cast you both into rats!” Upon hearing her words, the terrified couple trembled. They pitifully pleaded to be forgiven, asking for mercy. The witch turned a deaf and further them. The couple begged some more. Eventually, she said. “Very well, I’ll let you go. Butyou have to hand me your first born.” Without thinking twice, they thoughtlessly agreed and gladly fled back home. After a few years, the farmer’s wife gave birth to an enchantingly beautiful baby girl. When the witch heard the baby’s first cry, she swooped down their house chimney and snatched their baby daughter away. She named the red-haired baby, Rapunzel and kept her locked up in a tall tower. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. abode unlisted - tempat tinggal house or home 2. laden unlisted - sarat burdened, loaded 3. hollered unlisted - menjerit shouted, yelled 4. cast B2 - melemparkan tossed, threw 5. terrified B1 - ketakutan scared stiff, petrified 6. trembled B2 - menggeletar shook, shuddered 7. pleaded C2 - merayu begged 8. fled C1 - melarikan diri ran away 9. swooped unlisted - terjun dived 10. snatched C2 - merampas grabbed

55 CEFR Level B1 Story 51: The Accident Guy Halverson sat in his dark living room, terrified. He could not get the incident earlier out of his head. The light turned red, but he was in a hurry. So, he pressed down on the pedal and accelerated. An orange blur came from his right, and in a split second there was a violent jolt, then the bicyclist rolled across his hood and fell out of sight on the pavement. He panicked. He stepped on the gas and screeched away from the chaos into the darkness, shaken. A knocked on the door alarmed him and his world suddenly crumbled away beneath him. There was nothing he could do but answer it. A police officer stood under the porch light. “Mr. Halverson?” asked the grim officer. He let out a defeated sigh. “Yes. Let me - “ “I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your son’s bike was struck by a hit and run driver this evening. He died at the scene. I’m very sorry for your loss.” WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. terrified B1 - ketakutan frightened 2. accelerated C1 - memecut speeded up 3. jolt B2 - hentakan knock 4. pavement B1 - tepi jalan roadway 5. shaken B1 - gementar flustered 6. crumbled away C2 - hancur berkecai broke apart 7. grim C2 - berwajah serius stern 8. defeated B1 - menyerah kalah beaten 9. struck B1 - dilanggar hit 10. at the scene B1 - di tempat kejadian on the spot

56 CEFR Level B1 Article 52:Climate change: can we stop it? Twenty years ago, people could perhaps imagine that climate change was not a real problem, because some scientists still had doubts. Today almost all the world's scientists agree: the world is getting hotter, and it is the fault of human beings. Our planet is going towards a climate catastrophe, but we can stop from worsening. Indeed, we must do everything possible to stop them. In November 2021, world leaders (or most of them) met in Glasgow, in Scotland, for the COP26 summit. They have come up with some efforts to stop the Earth from getting too warm. One of the initiatives is to become more "carbon neutral" before 2050. Some of the World leaders have promised to become carbon-neutral even sooner. They have agreed to stop using coal and oil to generate heat and electricity; and more efforts should be taken in opting to use green energy sources. This ‘renewable’ green energy sources is an inexhaustible energy that can help to replace carbon-intensive energy resources for example coal. https://linguapress.com/intermediate/climate-change.htm WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. perhaps A2 - mungkin possibly 2. imagine B1 - bayangkan presume 3. doubts B1 - keraguan apprehension 4. fault B1 - kesalahan liability 5. catastrophe C2 - malapetaka calamity 6. worsening C1 - melarat deteriorating 7. summit C1 - sidang kemuncak conference 8. generate B2 - dihasilkan produce 9. sources B2 - sumber root 10. renewable unlisted - boleh diperbaharui inexhaustible

57 CEFR Level B1 Article 53:Transforming Healthcare With 5G 5G promises a new health ecosystem, one that can meet patient and healthcare provider needs accurately, efficiently, conveniently, cost-effectively, and at scale. 5G networks are poised to transform all critical components of healthcare, a transformation that’s especially substantial today given how the pandemic has placed tremendous stress on healthcare systems around the world. Since the early days of 5G trials, the technology’s potential to revolutionise the medical sector has been frequently cited in scenarios ranging from remote diagnosis to remote surgery. Although surgical procedures performed remotely over mobile networks are still likely many years away, plenty of applications using modern network technology, and systems are being rolled out globally, alongside many other trial projects. 5G technology will enable remote healthcare support and reduce patient exposure to contagions by minimizing in-person visits to doctors or healthcare facilities. For patients who can’t easily travel to healthcare providers, 5G will allow the provider to visit them via immersive telepresence systems. High-quality 5G connectivity systems can boost collaboration between medical professionals, allowing them to co-function on things like scans to improve diagnosis and patient care. Adapted from: https://www.huawei.com/my/technology-insights/publications /winwin/38/transforminghealthcare-5g WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. at scale B1 - pada saiz/tahap yg berpatutan proportionately 2. poised C1 - bersedia ready 3. substantial B2 - bermakna meaningful 4. revolutionise C2 - merevolusikan transform 5. remote C1 - jarak jauh distant 6. rolled out B1 - dilancarkan launched 7. contagions C2 - wabak penyakit plague 8. immersive C2 - mengasyikkan captivating 9. telepresence C2 - Kewujudan dalam alam maya virtual reality presence 10. co-function C1 - berkerjasama collaborate

58 CEFR Level B1 Article 54:Making Malaysia Proud It was a proud day for four students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kuala Selangor when they secured victory for the first place at the International Trade Fair, Ideas, Inventions, and New Products (iENA) 2022 in Nuremberg, Germany .The team won with their innovation of an educational board game centred on the topic of history and world civilisation The students came up with the Educational Card Set (ECS) World History Exploration Challenge, a Monopoly-inspired board game, which showcases heritage sites of world civilisations and was devised to get more people, specifically teenagers, to be drawn in mastering general knowledge related to world history. The teacher anticipates that the ECS board game will take off as an educational tool to be used in academic competitions and one day be available for sale. Their triumphs has won them praise and recognition from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He congratulated them on their win and set them as an example for other youths to participate in innovation competitions like the iENA. https://says.com/my/news/4-students-makes-m-sia-proud-after-securing-victory-at-german-innovationcompetition WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. secured Unlisted - mendapat obtained/ got 2. innovation C1 - kagum invention 3. came up with B2 - mereka create 4. showcases Unlisted - mempamerkan exhibit/ display 5. devised C2 - direka developed 6. drawn in B1 - berminat interested 7. anticipates C1 - menjangkakan expect 8. triumphs C1 - kejayaan success 9. recognition C2 - pengiktirafan appreciation 10. youths B2 - belia/remaja adolescent

59 CEFR Level B1 Article 55:Bloody Mary Bloody Mary’ is a well-known urban legend made popular in contemporary culture by schoolchildren in the UK and parts of the US. The spirit of Queen Mary I is said to appear if an individual looks into a mirror in a darkened room and states her name three times. The ghostly apparition reputedly appears behind the individual looking into the mirror, and can take a variety of forms including a skeleton, witch, corpse or spirit, which can depend upon how she is addressed – taunting her because of her miscarriages and false births can result in the spirit appearing to claw ones’ eyes out! The Bloody Mary folklore in its original form was slightly less macabre, but remains rather sinister. Young girls were told to walk up a flight of stairs backward in a dimly lit house while wielding a mirror – if done correctly the woman may have a chance of seeing her future husbands’ face. There was a chance she may instead see a skull – which indicates that she will die before she marries. https://blog.bridgemanimages.com/blog/10-urban-legends-myths WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. contemporary B2 - moden modern 2. spirit B2 - roh ghost 3. ghostly apparition unlisted - penampakan hantu presence of spirit 4. reputedly unlisted - dipercayai supposedly 5. taunting unlisted - mengejek insulting 6. miscarriages unlisted - keguguran abortions 7. macabre unlisted mengerikan terrifying 8. sinister unlisted - menakutkan frightening 9. dimly lit unlisted - cahaya samar-samar semi darkness 10. indicates B2 - menunjukkan hint

60 CEFR Level B1 Article 56:Water Purifier Amway has provided health-conscious families with cleaner, safer, purer and bettertasting water for nearly three decades. The eSpring Water Treatment System has been proven to remove more than 140 potential health- effect contaminants. Independent tests also show that eSpring eliminates 99.9 percent of all harmful microorganisms and is certified to remove more individual contaminants than any other carbon-based UV filtration system. There is also a patented monitoring system that informs customers of the remaining cartridge life and system status of eSpring. With wireless power technology, safety is assured as the water never touches any electrical component. It is also one of the few water-treatment systems in the world to be awarded certifications for meeting prestigious international standards. This was all achieved with more than 25 years of research. Backed by scientific tests and award-winning statistics, eSpring gives its consumers easy access to truly clean water. It is now sold in 40 countries and territories around the world and In-Home Service is also offered in selected locations for the servicing and repairs of this product. Readers Digest Vol: 4 2021 WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. health-conscious B2 - cakna kesihatan being aware of one’s health condition 2. eliminates C1 - menghapus removes 3. certified B2 - disahkan confirmed 4. contaminants B2 - bahan pencemar pollutants 5. filtration B2 - penapisan purification 6. patented C1 - yang dipatenkan exclusive 7. assured B2 - dijamin guaranteed 8. prestigious C1 - berprestij reputable 9. backed by B2 - disokong oleh supported by 10. territories B2 - wilayah regions

61 CEFR Level B1 Article 57:Oil and Gas We can go on using oil and gas for a few more decades - perhaps until 2070, then the oil will run out. At present, there is still plenty of oil and gas under the ground. Engineers keep finding new sources of oil. But there are some realities which cannot be avoided. Firstly, the quantity of oil under the ground and under the sea is not infinite. It will not last forever. As oil becomes rarer, it will become harder to extract. It will therefore become more expensive than other sources of energy. Scientists are already developing cars, houses and plastics that do not use oil. Electricity will be the energy of the third millennium, but it will have to be clean electricity. In the long term, all our energy will come from "renewable sources" - including water! The sun, the wind, the rivers and the oceans will give us all the energy that we need! However, we are not there yet! More research needs to be done before these alternative resources can be used as our new source of energy. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. plenty B1 - banyak abundance 2. finding A1 - menjumpai discovering 3. realities B2 - reality facts 4. avoided. B1 - dielakkan prevented 5. Infinite C2 - tiada batasan unlimited 6. rarer B1 - jarang didapati scarcer 7. last A1 - berkekalan remain 8. developing B1 - membangunkan creating 9. long term B2 - tempoh period 10. alternative B2 - alternatif another option

62 CEFR Level B1 Article 58: The Zodiac Story The story of the Zodiac animals is a perfect addition to this list of popular folktales. The actual author of the Chinese Zodiac is unknown. However, historians have traced it back to the Han Dynasty. Since its creation, there have been various versions that extended across Asia. There are Cambodian, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, and South Korean versions of this story. The animals are representatives of a 12-year cycle as a simple folktale. The signs are the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. The story begins with the Jade Emperor, also known as the First God, who declares a race to decide which animals would represent what year. The story can be relatable even in the world of adults. The rat came in first by taking advantage of its disadvantages. However, it was also willing to step on others to get ahead. The ox was hardworking but still ended up in second place. The pig was too lazy and finished last after eating and sleeping. It’s a story about the types of personalities you can find in a person, and which qualities are best to admire and ones you should not. https://facts.net/popular-folktales/ WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. actual B2 - sebenar real 2. traced C1 - jejak tracked down 3. extended B2 - dipanjangkan expanded 4. representatives B2 - wakil exemplar 5. declares B1 - mengisytiharkan proclaims 6. relatable Unlisted - boleh berhubung engaging 7. willing B1 - sanggup ready 8. ended up B1 - akhirnya arrived at 9. qualities B2 - kualiti standards 10. admire B1 - mengagumi approve of

63 CEFR Level B1 Article 59: Science is Blessing Science is important part of our era. It has turned our lives with amazing speed and added comfort to our life. Science has made it really worth living. Science has brought change in every field of life. It has changed the whole world in such a way that it seems difficult to believe once man used to live in caves. Today, man is living his life in comfort and enjoying all luxuries of life due to science. We have access to every corner of the world. Science has proved no less than blessing for us. Wonderful invention of science is internet. It has made access to knowledge very easy. It has revolutionised the means of transportation. Today, cancer like diseases is curable due to advanced knowledge. It has fulfilled the need of food for humans. It has created ways to improve yield of fields. Science has played a significant role in field of education. It has made education easier. One can get latest knowledge from internet and can better understand things using different scientific tools. https://mystudentsessays.com/wonders-of-science-essay/ WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. amazing A2 - menakjubkan astonishing 2. worth B1 - berbaloi worthwhile 3. used to B1 - biasa accustomed to 4. comfort B2 - keselesaan solace 5. luxuries B1 - kemewahan opulence 6. blessing Unlisted - rahmat grace 7. invention B1 - ciptaan creation 8. revolutionised Unlisted - revolusi transformed 9. curable Unlisted - boleh diubati treatable 10. significant B2 - ketara notable

64 CEFR Level B1 Story 60: Laughter is the best medicine by Carlos Bulosan When I was four, I lived with my mother, brothers and sister in a small town on the island of Luzon. Father’s farm was destroyed in 1918 by one of our sudden Philippine floods, so for several years onwards we all lived in the town, though we preferred living in the country. We had a next-door neighbour, a very rich man, whose sons, and daughters seldom came out of the house. While the boys and girls played sand in the sun, his children stayed inside and kept the windows shut. His how was so majestic that his children could look down in their windows into our compound. They watched us played or slept in our back garden. Some days the rich man appeared at the window and glowered down at us. He looked at us one by one, as though he was condemning us. We were always in the best of spirits and our laughter was contagious. Other neighbours who passed by our house often stopped in our yard and joined us in our laughter. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. island A1 - pulau isle 2. destroyed A2 - telah musnah demolish 3. sudden B1 - secara tiba-tiba unexpected 4. several A2 - banyak numerous 5. seldom B2 - jarang-jarang rarely 6. inside A2 - di dalam inner part 7. glowered C2 - memandang dengan wajah yang marah scowl 8. condemning C1 - mengkritik criticise 9. spirits B1 - bersemangat motivated 10. yard B1 - halaman lawn

65 CEFR Level B1 Story 61: A Day in the Life of an Influencer I'm hungry and I go to the supermarket to buy food. When I get home, I post pictures of my favorite brands on Instagram and hope they will sponsor me. I'm not a good cook, so I order takeout from the restaurant down the street. People are already asking me for my recipes! I have a meeting with my director now but all I share with my friends is a picture saying “SOMETHING IS COMING.” Everyone's excited and guessing what I’m doing. I am going to an event organized by a luxury brand. I am going to show everyone my makeup collection and answer all their questions. I will ignore all the hate comments because I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. My job is difficult, and not everyone will understand. I go to a party wearing a dress that a designer gave me, and I make sure to tell everyone how much I love the dress, so the designer will be happy. I take pictures of myself at the party, and I post them on Instagram. I go to the park with my friend. The sun isn't really helping us today, but it's okay because we can edit the pictures. These photo sessions are important as I need new content for Instagram everyday. I get out my slimming tea and take a picture of it. I post the picture on Instagram with a caption about how it changed my life. I almost drink the tea, but then I remember all the health risks and drink regular tea instead. I post one last video talking about how busy my day has been, and wish everyone a good night while feeling cosy in bed. I say I'm cosy in bed, but if only they knew that actually I'm searching to find a Netflix series I haven't already watched. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. brands B2 - jenama labels 2. sponsor B2 - taja fund 3. takeout unlisted - bawa pulang takeaway 4. luxury B2 - mewah lavish 5. ignore B1 - abaikan disregard 6. negativity unlisted - perasaan negatif pessimistic 7. designer A2 - pereka creator 8. content B2 - kandungan subject 9. regular B1 - biasa common 10. cosy C1 - selesa comfy

66 CEFR Level B1 Article 62: The Weekend Market Many tourists I have met have told me that one place they have to go is the weekend market. This market is huge and has everything from bags, souvenirs and handicrafts to many kinds of animals and many kinds of plants. It also has a fantastic variety of local food. The market is located near the city's main bus station so people come from all over the country to buy and sell goods. Moreover, it is also near a sky train station and a subway station which makes it very convenient for city people, especially young people who don't have cars. The market is very large and full of hundreds of small shops and stalls. As you walk through the market you will experience many sensations. For example, there are many smells, scents and aromas. There are many small cafes and drink stalls selling fresh coconut juice, orange juice or iced water. To sum up, a day at the weekend market is both a day of shopping and a unique experience for your senses. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. tourists A1 - pelancong travellers 2. souvenirs B1 - cenderamata momento 3. handicrafts C2 - kraftangan handiwork 4. fantastic A1 - hebat great 5. subway B2 - Jalan bawah tanah underpass 6. convenient B1 - selesa fitting 7. sensations C1 - sensasi excitement 8. aromas unlisted - aroma, bau scent 9. unique B2 - unik, tersendiri special 10. senses B1 - deria sensory

67 CEFR Level B1 Article 63: Christiane Amanpour Christiane Amanpour is one of the world’s most successful international news reporters. She has reported from so many countries and on so many issues that she is more famous than many movie or music celebrities. Christiane Amanpour was born in 1958 in London. Her father is Iranian and her mother is British. Because of her mixed cultural heritage, she learned to speak English, Persian and French. She became famous after she started working for CNN, the first global news network. Newsweek magazine wrote that Amanpour “helped establish CNN. While working for CNN, Amanpour quickly earned a reputation for high quality journalism. She was also known for her bravery. She was always in the world’s newsmaking hotspots at the right time. She likes to be where the action is happening. To sum up, Christiane Amanpour is a role model for anyone wanting to be a journalist. She is brave, honest and independent and also compassionate. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. reporters A2 - wartawan, pemberita journalist 2. heritage C1 - warisan legacy 3. global B1 - sejagat worldwide 4. network B1 - rangkaian circle 5. establish C1 - menubuhkan initiate 6. reputation B2 - nama baik name 7. journalism B2 - kewartawanan reporting 8. bravery B2 - keberanian courage 9. hotspots C2 - tumpuan center 10. compassionate C1 - penyayang caring

68 CEFR Level B1 Article 64: What are Calories? Calories are the energy found in the food we eat that we use to move, breathe, and survive. If you take in more calories than you need in a day, your body stores them as fat to use later. When you consistently consume too many calories for your activity level, you will gain weight. It’s important to pay attention to how many calories you’re eating to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. Calories are the energy provided by fat, protein, and carbohydrates. These are known as macronutrients. Your body uses the energy from calories to survive and move throughout the day. The amount of calories you eat and burn in a day influences how much you weigh. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week and two days of muscle-strengthening activities per week. This could be broken up into 30 minutes per day over five days, with additional health benefits for people who get more physical activity. Here are some tips to help you get more exercise each week, ask a friend to be an accountability partner, walk during part of your lunch break, park farther away in parking lots, take the stairs and many more. Calorie counting isn’t an exact science, and it can be easy to overestimate or underestimate how much you’re eating. Instead of focusing solely on calories, you may find it better to emphasise eating a balance of healthy foods. https://www.verywellhealth.com/calories-5509609 WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. survive B2 - bertahan live 2. consume B2 - mengambil devour 3. influences B1 - mempengaruhi affects 4. recommends A2 - mengesyorkan suggests 5. additional B2 - tambahan more 6. accountability C1 - mengambil tanggungjawab answerable 7. exact A2 - tepat precise 8. overestimate C1 - melebihkan exaggerate 9. solely C1 - semata-mata simply 10. emphasise B2 - penekanan highlight

69 CEFR Level B1 Article 65: Climate change Climate is sometimes mistaken for weather. But climate is different from weather because it is measured over a long period of time, whereas weather can change from day to day, or from year to year. The climate of an area includes seasonal temperature and rainfall averages, and wind patterns. Different places have different climates. Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. Climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. Climate change may cause weather patterns to be less predictable. These unexpected weather patterns can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because expected temperature and rainfall levels can no longer be relied on. Climate change has also been connected with other damaging weather events such as more frequent and more intense hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms. The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning fossil fuels, like natural gas, oil, and coal. Burning these materials releases what are called greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere. There, these gases trap heat from the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere causing Earth’s average temperature to rise. This rise in the planet's temperature is called global warming. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/climate-change WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. measured B1 - diukur considered 2. whereas B2 - sedangkan since 3. seasonal B2 - bermusim periodic 4. alteration C1 - pengubahan modification 5. predictable B2 - diramalkan foreseeable 6. rely B2 - bergantung depend 7. intense B2 - yang hebat extreme 8. downpours B1 - hujan lebat heavy rain 9. trap A2 - perangkap snare 10. rays B1 - sinaran beam

70 CEFR Level B1 Article 66: Environmental Impact of Air Pollution Air pollution is harming not only human health but also the environment in which we live. Acid rain is wet or dry precipitation containing toxic amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. They are able to acidify the water and soil environments, damage trees and plantations and outdoor sculptures, constructions and statues.Haze is produced when fine particles are dispersed in the air and reduce the transparency of the atmosphere. It is caused by gas emissions in the air coming from industrial facilities, power plants and vehicles. Ozone occurs both at ground level and in the upper level of the Earth's atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone is protecting us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. In contrast, ground-level ozone is harmful to human health and is a pollutant. Unfortunately, stratospheric ozone is gradually damaged by ozone-depleting substances. If this protecting stratospheric ozone layer is thinned, then UV radiation can reach our Earth, with harmful effects for human life and crops In plants, ozone penetrates through the stomata, inducing them to close, which blocks CO2 transfer and induces a reduction in photosynthesis.Global climate change is an important issue that concerns mankind. As is known, the “greenhouse effect” keeps the Earth's temperature durable. Unhappily, anthropogenic activities have destroyed this protecting temperature effect by producing large amounts of greenhouse gases, and global warming is mounting, with harmful effects on human health, animals, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and the water environment. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. precipitation C1 - renyai-renyai rain 2. acidify B2 - mengasidkan acidulate 3. particles B1 - zarah fragments 4. dispersed B2 - menyebarkan scattered 5. emissions C1 - mengeluarkan discharges 6. depleting C1 - mengurang reducing 7. penetrates B2 - menembusi go through 8. induces C2 - menghasilkan produces 9. durable B2 - stabil stable 10. mounting C2 - meningkat ascending

71 CEFR Level B1 Article 67: What is a healthy diet? Eating a healthy diet is not about strict limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, improving your health, and boosting your mood. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be overly complicated. If you feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutrition and diet advice out there, you’re not alone. It seems that for every expert who tells you a certain food is good for you, you’ll find another saying exactly the opposite. The truth is that while some specific foods or nutrients have been shown to have a beneficial effect on mood, it’s your overall dietary pattern that is most important. The cornerstone of a healthy diet should be to replace processed food with real food whenever possible. Eating food that is as close as possible to the way nature made it can make a huge difference to the way you think, look, and feel. By using these simple tips, you can cut through the confusion and learn how to create—and stick to—a tasty, varied, and nutritious diet that is as good for your mind as it is for your body. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. depriving B2 - menghalang blocking 2. Rather A2 - sebaliknya somewhat 3. boosting B2 - meningkatkan increasing 4. overwhelmed C2 - tertekan swamped 5. exactly A2 - dengan tepat precisely 6. nutrients B2 - nutrisi nourishment 7. cornerstone B2 - elemen yang penting basis, foundation 8. processed food B2 - makanan yang diproses Convenience food 9. confusion B2 - kekeliruan uncertainty 10. varied B2 - pelbagai diverse

72 CEFR Level B1 Story 68: An Unhappy Old Man An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood. The longer he lived, the more bile he was becoming and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him, because his misfortune became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him. He created the feeling of unhappiness in others. But one day, when he turned eighty years old, an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumour: “An Old Man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up.” The whole village gathered together. The Head of the Village asked the old man, “What happened to you?” The old man replied “Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. Then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life as it is. That’s why I’m happy now.” Moral of the story: Do not chase happiness. Enjoy your life. https://lithub.com/story WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. tired A1 - letih exhausted 2. unfortunate B2 - malang unlucky 3. whole A2 - keseluruhan entire 4. gloomy C1 - muram dejected 5. poisonous B1 - beracun toxic 6. insulting C2 - menghina degrading 7. contagious C1 - mudah berjangkit infectious 8. incredible A2 - luar biasa unbelievable 9. rumour C1 - khabar angin gossip 10. chasing B2 - mengejar pursuing

73 CEFR Level B2 Excerpt 69: My Hopes and Fears Being rather pessimistic, I would like to start-off with my fears. I guess my most immediate fear is the approaching examination. Though I have always been conscientious and am often among the top 5 students in class, I’m a bit worried about not doing well enough to enter sixth form. This would mean that my parents would have to spend more money to send me to a private college. But my greatest fear in the next decade when I turn 27 is the fear of not successfully completing my degree. What if I failed miserably? My parents would be disappointed and I would be devastated. What would I do if I were unable to support myself? Related to this is the fear of growing older and alone. I love being a teenager with lots of friends. This is the time when you can enjoy the best that life has to offer. Without the need to worry about working for a living, getting married and becoming parents, but without good qualifications, I would be condemned to a low-paying job. My high-flying friends would probably shun me, and no one would want to marry me and eventually, I’d die alone and unloved. This is what would pain me the most. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. pessimistic B2 - pesimis feeling discouraged 2. immediate B2 - segera urgent 3. conscientious C1 - teliti careful 4. decade unlisted - sepuluh tahun/ dekad period 5. miserably unlisted - sengsara wretchedly 6. devastated C1 - dikecewakan destroyed 7. qualifications B1 - kelayakan credentials 8. condemned C2 - dikutuk criticised 9. high-flying unlisted - cemerlang/berjaya successful 10. eventually B2 - akhirnya finally

74 CEFR Level B2 Excerpt 70: The Dead Man in The Garden For young detective Aggie Morton and her friend Hector, a spa stay becomes a lot more thrilling when TWO dead bodies are found in this third book in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series, inspired by the life of Agatha Christie as a child and her most popular creation, Hercule Poirot for fans of Enola Holmes. Aspiring writer Aggie Morton is ready to enjoy an invigorating trip to a Yorkshire spa, where her widowed mother can take the waters and recover from a long mourning period. Having solved yet another murder and faced extreme peril with her best friend Hector over Christmas, Aggie’s Morbid Preoccupation is on alert when rumors abound about the spa's recently deceased former patient and then another body appears under mysterious circumstances. Together with Grannie Jane, and often in the company of George, a young patient at the spa, Aggie and Hector take a closer look at the guests and staff of the Wellspring Hotel, and venture into the intriguing world of the local undertaker. Has there been a murder—or even two? As Aggie and Hector ignite their deductive skills, their restful trip takes a sudden, dangerous turn. Written by: Angie Morton for Penguin Random House WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. thrilling B2 - mendebarkan exciting 2. invigorating unlisted - menyegarkan brisk 3. extreme B2 - sangat bahaya danger 4. peril C1 - berisiko tinggi hazard 5. alert C1 - berjaga-jaga watchful 6. deceased C2 - meninggal dunia passed away 7. circumstances B2 - keadaan situations 8. venture C2 - usaha endeavor 9. intriguing C2 - menarik fascinating 10. ignite C1 - menyala to catch fire

75 CEFR Level B2 Story 71: Controlling Anger Once, there was a young boy. This boy had problems controlling his anger. When he got angry, he would say the first thing that came to mind, even if it affected people. One day, his father gifted him a hammer and a bundle of nails, then said, “Whenever you get mad, hammer a nail into the backyard fence.” In the first days, the boy used up half of the nails. Over the next weeks, he used up fewer nails, until his temper was under control. Then, his father asked the young boy to remove a nail for each day he did not lose his temper. On the day when the boy removed his last nail, his father told him, “You have done good, boy. But can you see the holes in the wall? The fence is never going to be the same. Likewise, when you say mean things in anger, you will leave a scar.” https://owlcation.com/academia/Very-Short-Stories-For-High-School WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. controlling B1 - kawal managing 2. anger B2 - kemarahan resentment 3. affected B2 - terkesan troubled 4. gifted C1 - menghadiahkan awarded 5. bundle C2 - seberkas bunch 6. backyard unlisted - halaman rumah courtyard 7. temper B2 - perangai temperament 8. fence B2 - pagar wall 9. Likewise C2 - Sama seperti As well 10. scar B2 - parut mark

76 CEFR Level B2 Story 72: The White Lion Long ago in a village near the Kumgang Mountains in Korea there lived a young boy. His father had been missing since he was a baby, and the boy knew very well the reason why. An enormous White Tiger still lived in the Kumgang Mountains who had tormented the village for years, coming down to prey not only on horses and cattle, but even on the human beings who lived there. Years ago, his father, who had been the finest hunter and gunman in the land, ventured into the Kumgang Mountains to shoot the White Tiger and to save the village. He had never returned. When the boy was still small, he already decided deep in his heart that when he grew up, he would be the one to shoot down the tiger that had overpowered his father. As soon as he was allowed, he trained rigorously with the gun and became almost as good a gunman as his father had been. When he was fifteen years old, the boy went to his mother and said, "Mother, I'm ready now to set out for the Kumgang Mountains to find the White Tiger and defeat him. Please, let me go." WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. enormous B1 - sangat besar very large 2. tormented unlisted - menyeksa something that cause pain 3. prey C2 - pemangsa to kill and eat others 4. finest A2 - terbaik excellent 5. ventured C2 - pergi to dare to go 6. decided A2 - membuat keputusan make up your mind 7. rigorously unlisted - dengan ketat strictly or harshly 8. gunman C2 - bersenjata api criminal who uses a gun 9. set out B1 - berangkat to start a journey 10. defeat B1 - mengalahkan to beat

77 CEFR Level B2 Excerpt 73: The Faith of the Sparrow The battlefield of Kurukshetra was prepared to facilitate the movement of mammoth armies with large cavalries. They used elephants to uproot trees and clear the ground. On one tree, lived a sparrow, a mother of four young ones. As the tree was being knocked down, her nest landed on the ground along with her offspring, too young to fly, miraculously unharmed. The vulnerable and frightened sparrow looked around for help. She felt really hopeless and was giving up hope when just then she saw a soldier was scanning the field. He was so intently examining the battleground such that he was unaware of the desperate sparrow. He was tasked to devise a winning strategy before the onset of war. It was a heavy burden as the whole army was counting on him. The sparrow flapped her tiny wings to attract his attention but tono avail. Then, with all her might she flew towards the soldier’s chariot and pleaded him to help her. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. facilitate C1 - memudahkan make easy 2. mammoth unlisted - amat besar, raksasa huge 3. cavalries unlisted - pasukan berkuda mounted troops 4. offspring C2 - zuriat, anak-anak children 5. vulnerable C2 - terdedah pada bahaya in danger, in peril 6. intently unlisted - bersungguh-sungguh closely, attentively 7. devise C2 - merangka conceive, think up 8. onset unlisted - permulaan starting, beginning 9. (but to no) avail B2 - tiada bermanfaat of no benefit 10. chariot unlisted - kereta kuda a two-wheeled carriage

78 CEFR Level B2 Article 74: Best Foot Forward There’s something so delightful about buying new trainers – lifting the lid of the shoebox and parting the tissue paper to reveal a pristine pair of sneakers. What’s not so enjoyable is when your fresh kicks turn from spotless to spoiled especially during the colder months when our footwear has to contend with muddy puddles, slush and snow. But with the right care and cleaning, you can keep sneakers looking snazzy, whether they are bright white, jet black or multicoloured. Here, experts share their top tips for looking after your trainers. First, always spray your shoes with a shoe protector. If you want black or brightly coloured trainers to retain their vivid hue, store them in a cool, dark place to avoid sun damage and use shrink wrap to keep dust and humidity away. If your shoes are made of fabric or canvas, you can put them in the washing machine on a quick, cold cycle at a low spin. To treat leather, make your own cleaning solution by mixing two parts white vinegar with one part olive oil. If the colour of your white leather has faded, use specialist shoe whiteners because they add colour back onto the affected areas. Lastly, if you really want to avoid stains and discolouration, it’s best to leave your favourite footwear at home during bad weather. Adapted from The Sun 3 October 2022 WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. lid B2 - penutup cover 2. parting C2 - memisahkan separating 3. pristine unlisted - tidak tercemar unspoiled 4. muddy B2 - berlumpur covered with mud 5. snazzy unlisted - bergaya extremely attractive or stylish 6. experts B1 - pakar specialists 7. retain C2 - mengekalkan maintain 8. vivid B2 - terang bright 9. humidity unlisted - kelembapan moisture 10. stains B2 - kesan tercemar a spot that is not easily removed

79 CEFR Level B2 Article 75: Make Time for Consumer Education Consumer education covers a wide range of aspects which include nutritional practices, advertising, the environment, and various types of services. In the modern world, we are flooded with a myriad of services and products from various brands. The development of modern technology often exposes us to advertisements and offers aimed at increasing sales. Consumers, especially young people, are easily dragged into the world of advertising so that they are willing to spend their money on a product in the market regardless of whether or not they need it. The eating habits of Malaysians are influenced by food advertisements, especially those of fast food. This, coupled with the increasing rate of young smokers in our country, has increased the rate of chronic diseases in Malaysia. Compared to other countries, the rate of consumer awareness is very low in our country. Malaysians still do not know their rights as consumers. The easiest way to promote consumer awareness is to incorporate consumer education into learning in schools. And this can begin by introducing consumer education to teachers who will then pass on their knowledge to students effectively. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. myriad unlisted - pelbagai countless 2. exposes B2 - mendedahkan reveal 3. aimed B1 - bertujuan focus 4. Consumer B2 - Pengguna Buyer 5. dragged B1 - diheret pulled 6. regardless C1 - tanpa mengira nevertheless 7. influenced B2 - terpengaruh persuaded 8. awareness C1 - kesedaran raise consciousness 9. rights B2 - hak power / righteousness 10. incorporate C2 - menggabungkan integrate

80 CEFR Level B2 Article 76: Big Loans Can Really Affect Your Life Youths can be faced with adult-level decisions when it comes to taking out large sums of loans for things like cars and college. Otherwise, before they start earning a steady pay check, they could already be drowned in tens of thousands of debts without understanding how long or difficult it is to pay back. A car might only cost $10K or a few hundred dollars a monthly but they forget that is only one expense they'll have to bear. When they take out college loans, they're thinking about their first "real" job and how big their pay checks will be without realizing they could be paying back these loans for decades. Therefore, they should calculate the total loan payments like terms and interest rates before to better understand the commitments they are taking on. If they track their budget and project their expenses and compare it to their pay and you add in a student loan repayment, the idea of taking out a big loan may not seem like such a smart decision. https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/student-money-tips.html WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. sums B1 - jumlah amount 2. steady B2 - kukuh solid 3. drowned B2 - ditimbuni engulf 4. debts B2 - hutang credit 5. expense B2 - perbelanjaan expenditure 6. calculate B2 - mengira count 7. terms A2 - syarat condition 8. interest rate B2 - kadar faedah borrowing rate 9. commitments B2 - beban responsibility 10. repayment unlisted - bayaran balik reimbursement

81 CEFR Level B2 Article 77: Pavilion featuring Tokyo Town An exciting new Japanese precinct Tokyo Town has opened recently at Level 2 of Pavilion Bukit Jalil – celebrating Japanese food, retail, arts and culture. This exciting precinct welcomes shoppers with its grand and authentic Japanese architecture and interior design and an exciting mix that blends traditional and contemporary Japanese experiences. The sense of Tokyo is also embodied in the design and layout of Level 2. The design incorporates a grand floating temple roof that is by inspired and designed with ‘kirizumazukuri’ or gable roof style. It is the basic style in ancient Japan enhanced by giant Japanese umbrellas. Shoppers are further greeted into a shopping street in the Tokyo Town precinct that is also known as ‘Nakamise’. In Japanese ‘Nakamise’ refers to the symbol of the grand Torii Gate which features cultural decorations such as Japanese traditional lanterns, beautiful Sakura trees adorned with tanbata wishes and carp streamers. This elaborate décor is further enhanced with a gorgeous Kimono Art Tapestry that transports visitors directly to the heart of Japan. That is not all, visitors can immerse in the rich arts and culture of Japan with exhibition by Nippon Design School, exquisite origami exhibition pieces by Origami Academy bespoke floral arrangements curated by Hana Saku. Shoppers can also bring home Japanese inspired interior décor and novelties from Jippuri and Kikuya, which specialises in fine Japanese home and living. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. precinct unlisted - dalam kawasan zone 2. authentic C1 - tulen real or genuine 3. contemporary B2 - semasa the present time 4. embodied C2 - menampilkan ciri-ciri exemplified 5. floating B1 - terapung to stay on the surface 6. inspired B2 - memberangsangkan to encourage 7. greeted B1 - menyambut to welcome 8. gorgeous B1 - cantik beautiful 9. immerse unlisted - merendamkan to put something into a liquid 10. novelties C2 - sesuatu yang baru dan ganjil new and strange

82 CEFR Level B2 Article 78: Benefits of Market Speculation In stock market or any kind of trading, speculation is beneficial for two parties: the owner or shareholders and traders. Firstly, in the absence of speculation, untested new companies, like Tesla or, in earlier times, Microsoft Corporation, would have never been able to raise the necessary capital for expansion. As a company grows, it needs larger finances to further spur its growth and this could be easily realised if there’s a speculation of a healthy positive future performance of the company which would surely drive the stock prices up because of the alluring chance of a huge gain. Secondly, there’s always risk every time a stock is traded whether it’s being bought or sold. Buyer who purchases stocks is at risk that these purchased stocks might go down in price resulting in potential loss. Meanwhile, seller whosells retains a residual risk that there is the chance that the sold stocks might go up which would mean losing a potential gain. Conclusively, market speculation benefits both the companyand the stock traders and investors. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. speculation C1 - spekulasi conjecture, theorizing 2. capital A2 - modal money, finances 3. spur C2 - merangsang stimulate 4. alluring unlisted - memikat enticing, attracting 5. gain B1 - keuntungan profit, make money 6. retains C2 - mengekalkan preserves 7. residual unlisted - baki remaining, leftover 8. Conclusively C2 - Dengan pasti Convincingly 9. traders C2 - pedagang dealers 10. investors B2 - pelabur shareholders

83 CEFR Level B2 Story 79: A Shortcut Sally is a young woman committed to her work as a nurse at a general hospital. It was nearly dusk and Sally wanted to go home fast. She decided to use the back alley as it was a short cut to her house. She started walking fast when suddenly she came across an old woman standing alone beside the drain. The hunchbacked granny asked Sally to accompany her back home. Sally unhesitatingly agreed. They both walked slowly while making some small talks until they reached the granny’s beautiful small wooden hut. Granny was so thankful and praised Sally for being such a good Samaritan. Sally continued walking home without giving much thought to the incident. The next morning she decided to use the same alley again, hoping to bump into the granny again so she could check on her. She could still remember the location of the house. But to her surprise, the hut was not there! Instead, there were rows of headstones before her eyes! Sally started running and vowed never to use the alley ever again. WORD LIST with CEFR Level 1. dusk unlisted - senja nightfall 2. alley unlisted - lorong backstreet 3. short cut A2 - jalan pintas fastest way 4. accompany B1 - mengiringi escort 5. small talks A1 - berbasa-basi polite conversations 6. unhesitatingly unlisted - dengan tidak teragak-agak immediately 7. good Samaritan unlisted - orang yang baik helping hand 8. bump into B2 - terserempak meet 9. headstones unlisted - batu nisan tombstones 10. vowed C2 - bersumpah swore

84 CEFR Level B2 Article 80: Do Superstitions Control Your Life? Superstition is a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck. This notion of believing in the unknown can be influenced by culture and religion. Why do some people are influenced by superstitions, and where do superstitions come from? The exact origin of many superstitions is unknown. However, some of them are connected with good or bad luck. Many people believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky dayone on which many things can go wrong. Superstitious fears about this day have grown and spread thanks to unfortunate events. In the eighteenth century, a ship vanished at sea. In 1945, on a Friday the 13th, the first atom bomb was tested and on the same day in 1992, thousands of people were killed by an earthquake in Turkey. Many cultures around the world believe in lucky and unlucky numbers. In Japan, Korea and China for instance, people consider the number four to be unlucky because the pronunciation of it is very similar to the word that means ‘death’, hence many hotels in these countries do not have fourth floors. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. Superstition unlisted - tahyul myths 2. influenced B2 - dipengaruhi affected 3. origin B2 - asal-usul begining 4. go wrong B1 - tidak menjadi fall through 5. thanks to A1 - disebabkan oleh because of 6. vanished B2 - hilang disappeared 7. earthquake B2 - gempa bumi tremor 8. for instance B1 - contohnya for example 9. pronunciation B1 - sebutan articulation 10. hence C1 - oleh itu therefore

85 CEFR Level B2 Article 81: Déjà vu’ Déjà vu’ is defined as the feeling that something has happened before and no one can definitively explain what causes it. That being said, interesting theories have been proposed for the cause of this phenomenon and one of the most fascinating related to the ‘multiverse’ idea. The theory relies on the idea that an infinite number of universes exist alongside us that we cannot view. Vibrating at different frequencies, these universes could be all around us but we do not notice them. Based on the theory, there are possibly an infinite number of you strolling around doing different things. However, it is possible that for a certain moment, two frequencies could be “in phase” allowing universes to briefly interact. This causes the universes to overlap and you to feel as if you just did something because in another universe you actually did. If that is assumed to be true, then it would be plausible that every so often, two extremely similar universes would cross paths. Hence, allowing the impression that you had already done something. Because you have. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. definitively unlisted - secara muktamad conclusively 2. phenomenon C1 - fenomena occurrence 3. infinite C2 - tidak terkira unlimited 4. alongside C1 - selari parallel 5. strolling C1 - berjalan-jalan wandering 6. interact B2 - berinteraksi communicate 7. overlap C2 - bertindih intersect 8. assumed B2 - dianggap supposed 9. plausible C2 - munasabah reasonable 10. impression B2 - perasaan feeling

86 CEFR Level B2 Story 82: Dumplings It was 2:00 a.m. and she could not sleep. Slowly she got out of bed and went to the kitchen. She started mixing ground pork, chives, minced garlic and soy sauce together. Then, taking the freshly-kneaded dough, she rolled it into several thin sheets. When the ingredients were prepared, she placed a thin sheet of dough on the palm of her hand and gently scooped up some of the filling, placing it at the centre of the dough sheet and pinching the ends of the dough sheet together. That was repeated until there was no more filling and sheets of dough left. Afterwards, she stir-fried the individually-wrapped fillings in oil until they got crispy. Placing the Chinese dumplings on a plate, she took out a pair of chopsticks and began savouring the taste. When she had a hard time sleeping at night, eating her dumplings would always help. She didn’t really know why, but perhaps it is because they reminded her of her roots; through them, she remembered the old home she used to live in with her family back in China. Adapted from: http://200wordshortstory.org/dumplings-story-by-vivian-leung/ WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. minced unlisted - hiris chopped 2. placed B2 - letakkan put 3. scooped up unlisted - mencedok took 4. pinching unlisted - mencubit squeezing 5. filling A2 - inti stuffing 6. crispy unlisted - rangup crunchy 7. savouring unlisted - menikmati enjoying 8. had a hard time A1 - susah/sukar had trouble 9. perhaps A2 - mungkin maybe 10. roots B2 - asal-usul heritage

87 CEFR Level B2 Article 83: Hugh Jackman Hugh Jackman is a rare example of an actor who commands by his presence rather than his words. Jackman is most famous for his portrayal of Wolverine in the X-men film franchise. Wolverine is a tortured soul of very few words. Jackman’s gift is to bring this character fully to life so that audiences around the world empathise with and relate to Wolverine’s pain and inner grace. So how does Jackman pull this off? He says he watched the films of Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson and the early boxing style of Mike Tyson to understand how men of few words convey their inner conviction. Jackman even did all the stunts in the film himself to keep Wolverine character gritty rather than pretty. Wolverine is famous for having long metal claws that slide out of his fingers when he is angry, cornered or in a fight. Jackman cut himself many times wearing the claws to get used to them. This is the hallmark of Jackman’s acting charisma. He literally lives the role that he is playing to truly bring the part to life. Adapted from Just English Magazine, Vol.9 Issue 8 WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. presence B2 - kehadiran charisma 2. portrayal C2 - gambaran representation 3. tortured C2 - menderita tormented 4. empathise unlisted - menyelami identify 5. pull off A2 - mencapai achieve 6. conviction C2 - keyakinan assurance 7. gritty unlisted - cekal tough 8. cornered unlisted - dicabar confronted 9. hallmark unlisted - ciri-ciri characteristic 10. bring to life C2 - menghidupkan (sesuatu watak) make (something) believable

88 CEFR Level B2 Story 84: Purple Hands When I was small my grandparents would take me blackberry picking. It was usually late August when the blackberries had fully ripened. Grandad would drive us is in his old van. Despite not being comfortable or particularly safe, Grandad’s van had a character you would not find in a sleek new car. But a seven-year-old me always enjoyed the trip as we bounced along to our destination. My grandparents always chose the same spot. Wild blackberry bushes stretched along the roadside as far as the eye could see in both directions. Several hours of picking berries ensued. Nana warned me not to eat any until they had all been washed but turned a knowing blind eye while I gorged anyway. When at last we were finished, the bright scenery had turned to lengthy shadows and the afternoon had elapsed into evening. Grandad hauled a bin bag half full of berries back to the van. Juice bled slowly onto the ground. My stomach hurt from too much fruit. My hands stung from constant thorn pricks and were stained dark purple. Adapted from:http://200wordshortstory.org WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. despite B1 - walaupun in spite of 2. sleek unlisted - bergaya stylish 3. bounced B2 - terhinggut-hinggut bopped 4. stretched B2 - terbentang spread out 5. ensued unlisted - berlarutan continued 6. turned a knowing blind eye B1 - abaikan ignored 7. gorged unlisted - melahap eat greedily 8. elapsed C2 - berlalu passed 9. hauled C2 - angkut dragged 10. pricks unlisted - cucukan pokes

89 CEFR Level B2 Article 85: Thanksgiving On Thanksgiving Day, American people get together with their families and friends to give thanks for the past year. It is celebrated with big dinners and special food. In December 1620, over 100 English immigrants came to America. The following winter was very harsh and they didn’t have enough to eat, so more than half of them died. The next year, friendly Indians helped them grow corn, barley and other crops. The harvest was good and the governor of the colony organised a festival to thank God for the food that He had given them. As time went on the custom of Thanksgiving spread to other New England colonies, but for many years to come the new country had no national Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln formally proclaimed that Thanksgiving should be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. The turkey has become the symbol of Thanksgiving. Roast turkey with cranberry sauce is one of the most popular meals that Americans have on the day. Adapted from: https://www.english-online.at/culture/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-day.htm WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. get together B1 - berkumpul assemble 2. give thanks A1 - bersyukur be grateful 3. immigrants B2 - pendatang settlers 4. harsh C1 - keterlaluan severe 5. crops B1 - tanaman plants 6. governor unlisted - gabenor town leader 7. custom B1 - adat tradition 8. colonies unlisted - tanah jajahan settlements 9. formally proclaimed B1 - mengisytihar secara rasmi publicly declared 10. celebrated B1 - diraikan commemorated

90 CEFR Level B2 Excerpt 86: The Story of Aron Ralston If you’ve seen the movie 127 Hours, you know how Aron Ralston’s story goes. But for those who haven’t, it’s a bit of a shocker. In 2003, Ralston was hiking alone in Bluejohn Canyon in Canyonlands National Park in southeast Utah. While he was descending into one of the remote and exceedingly narrow canyons, a boulder fell and trapped his right arm. For five days he survived off of packed water and snacks, hoping someone would find him. Trouble was, not only was the spot remote, but he also hadn’t told anyone where he was going. Realising he may never be found (and his supplies had almost run out), he was forced to amputate his arm by cutting through the bone using his multi-tool that included a knife. After freeing himself, he began the seven-mile walk back to his truck. During his journey, a family discovered him and alerted authorities. He lost 40 pounds during his ordeal, and somehow, miraculously, avoided bleeding to death. He now continues to mountaineer and works as a motivational speaker. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. shocker unlisted - kejutan eye opener 2. descending B2 - menuruni going down 3. canyons unlisted - lembah dalam ravine 4. boulder unlisted - batu besar large rock 5. spot B1 - lokasi location 6. run out B1 - kehabisan finished 7. amputate unlisted - memotong cut off 8. alerted C2 - memaklumkan informed 9. ordeal C2 - pahit getir difficulty 10. miraculously unlisted - secara ajaib surprisingly 11. mountaineer unlisted - mendaki gunung hike

91 CEFR Level B2 Article 87: The Struggle of the Youth Every generation has its own struggles. Research found that 44% of young people today have concerns about their studies and exam pressures. Academic standards are higher than ever and on top of that, students must prove that they are well-rounded individuals who have taken an array of extracurricular activities: perhaps accepted volunteering responsibilities; or entered internships. And while that might have been pressuring enough in recent years, now of course young people are having to develop high standard university applications while having lived the last academic year online. Their tech skills might be benefiting from this, but perhaps their interpersonal and communicative skills are suffering. There is a perception that young people are unprepared for work and also paid less than the previous generations. Particularly in the current pandemic, many young people preparing to leave school are facing uncertainties about what opportunities are out there regarding apprenticeships, internships and employment in general.This leads itself to increased concerns about financial instability. As university and housing costs rise, young people are unable to easily chart a course for their future. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. concerns B2 - bimbang worries 2. well-rounded unlisted - serba boleh versatile 3. an array of unlisted - pelbagai various 4. internships unlisted - latihan praktikal trainings 5. pressuring B2 - membebankan burdensome 6. benefiting B2 - memberi manfaat useful 7. perception C2 - pandangan (an) impression 8. uncertainties C1 - ketidakpastian doubts 9. employment B1 - pekerjaan job 10. chart a course B2 - merancang plan

92 CEFR Level B2 Article 88: The Suicide Forest Aokigahara Forest in Japan is also known as the Suicide Forest. This lush greenery is said to be the world's second most popular place to commit suicide. Aokigahara is sometimes called the “Sea of Trees’ because it is so thick with foliage. All modern technologies and devices fail here due to rich deposits of magnetic irons created by volcanic soil in the region. These are the main reasons why coming out of the forest is nearly impossible if you get lost in it. The forest holds a reputation of being home to yūrei, ghosts of the dead. Officially, around 105 bodies were discovered in 2003 and most of them were severely decomposed or eaten by wild animals. Japanese spiritualists speculates that these suicides have permeated Aokigahara’s trees, which in return has given birth to paranormal activities. People believe that it’s bad luck for the bodies to be left in the jungle so forest workers bring them back and they are kept in a special room at the local forest police station. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. lush unlisted - subur dense 2. commit suicide B2 - membunuh diri take own life 3. foliage unlisted - dedaunan leaves 4. soil B2 - tanah ground 5. region B1 - kawasan area 6. coming out of C2 - keluar escape 7. holds a reputation B2 - dipercayai is believed to 8. decomposed B2 - mereput rotten 9. speculates C2 - mengandaikan theorises 10. paranormal unlisted - mistik supernatural

93 CEFR Level B2 Article 89: Unique Cultural Differences of the World People have a propensity to develop traditions and customs around everything from gestures to eating habits. This has led to a world enriched with thousands of different cultures since the dawn of civilization. Something that feels like a customary practice to you may seem bizarre to others. This includes something as small as pointing. Some countries regard pointing with the index finger as rude. However, in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia this gesture is viewed as incredibly offensive. There, it’s considered much more polite to gesture toward things with the thumb. On the other hand, in some culture, people signal with contortions of their mouths. For example, in Nicaragua, it’s common to point with the lips instead of the thumb or index finger. This is done by puckering up in a kind of duck face. The lips can then be directed forward or side-to-side to indicate what the person is trying to point out. This gesture is usually accompanied by a directional head movement, which is used to indicate something happening nearby. Adapted from: https://localizejs.com/articles/cultural-differences-9-surprising-customs-fromaround-the-world/ WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. propensity unlisted - kecenderungan tendency 2. dawn B2 - permulaan beginning 3. civilization B2 - tamadun human development 4. customary practice C1 - adat tradition 5. bizarre B2 - luar biasa unusual 6. regard B1 - menganggap consider 7. offensive B2 - menyinggung perasaan insulting 8. contortions unlisted - pergerakan movements 9. indicate B2 - menunjukkan show 10. gesture C1 - isyarat signal

94 CEFR Level B2 Article 90: Loch Ness Monster The first written story of the monster is in a text from the year 565 AD by Celtic biographer: this writer describes how a man was attacked by a monster while he was swimming in the river Ness. Perhaps the legend already existed in those days: it has certainly existed for many centuries in Scottish folklore. However, the story of the monster was not very well-known in England for one simple reason: Loch Ness is a very long way from the rest of Britain. Until the age of the railway, very few people ever went to the Highlands of Scotland… except soldiers or officials from the cities of the Scottish Lowlands. No-one else had any reason to go there: the North of Scotland was wild and desolate, wet and generally cold, and inhabited more by sheep than by people. The myth became big news in 1930; three men, out in a boat on the lake, said that they had seen a monster. Immediately, several other people said that they had seen one too. In 1933, a man took the first "photo" of the monster, from a distance of about 100 metres. The photo was not clear, but Kodak said that the photo was real. https://linguapress.com/intermediate/loch-ness-monster.htm WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. describes A2 - huraikan recount 2. legend B2 - lagenda tale 3. folklore Unlisted - cerita rakyat fables 4. officials C2 - pegawai officer 5. desolate Unlisted - sunyi sepi barren 6. inhabited C2 - didiami occupied 7. myth B2 - mitos lore 8. immediately B1 - serta merta at once 9. monster A2 - raksaksa beast 10. distance B1 - jarak range

95 CEFR Level B2 Article 91: The Archer and The Sun The ancient Chinese mentioned about the earth having 10 suns. They would come out of the sky one by one, but one day all 10 came out at once heating the earth. Hou Yi was assigned by King Yao to take control of the suns. Hou Yi first tried to reason with them but failed. He then pretended to shoot them with his bow but they still refused to obey. He began to shoot them one by one until finally, only one was left. In another version, after Hou Yi shot down the suns, he was declared as a hero-king by the people. However, once he was crowned king, he turned mean. Hou Yi had also obtained an eternal potion. Chang'e, his wife was worried the people would forever be his victims. In desperation, she consumed the potion and floated away. As she did, Hou Yi tried to shoot her down but failed. In honour of her sacrifice, people celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. initially B2 - pada mulanya in the beginning 2. scorching Unlisted - membakar burning 3. rein in Unlisted - mengawal control 4. intimidate Unlisted - mengugut frighten 5. proclaimed Unlisted - diisytiharkan announced 6. tyrant Unlisted - pemerintah kejam cruel 7. subjugated Unlisted - memperhambakan conquest 8. cruelty B2 - penganiayaan viciousness 9. consumed B2 - menghabiskan drink up 10. floated B1 - melayang drifted

96 CEFR Level B2 Article 92: Hercules and his 12 Healing Labours. Hercules was one of the sons of Zeus, and is often noted for his chivalrous character and strong, courageous demeanour. His real story, of course, is much darker than the Disney film - he certainly harboured a dark side, which later became evident when he went mad and murdered his own wife and children in their sleep. Despite claims that this horrific decision was wholly fuelled by his arch-nemesis, the goddess Hera, the gods were livid and consequently sentenced Hercules to 12 years of almost impossible life-threatening tasks. Of course, from this, it’s clear that those in authority (the gods) didn’t take into consideration the likelihood that Hercules might’ve acted on insanity, and that, considering his respectful past, shouldn’t have been held this accountable for his terrible crime – another notion that’s commonly raised in criminal court cases today. Nevertheless, Hercules was able to triumphantly complete every one of the impossibly gruelling labours, and was cleared of guilt and granted mortality by the god Apollo. WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. chivalrous B2 - keberanian gallant 2. demeanour B1 - perlakuan disposition 3. harboured B2 - memendam conceal 4. fuelled unlisted - dimarakkan incite 5. arch-nemesis unlisted - musuh adversary 6. livid B1 - murka infuriated 7. life-threatening B1 - mengancam nyawa deadly 8. accountable B2 - dipertangungjawabkan responsible 9. gruelling unlisted - memenatkan exhausting 10. mortality B2 - kehidupan yang tidak kekal transience

97 CEFR Level B2 Article 93: Modern Forensic Science Technologies As technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives, it is no wonder that solving crimes has become almost futuristic in its advances. From retinal scanning to tracing evidence chemistry, actual forensic technologies are definitely a cutting-edge at helping to solve crimes that they seem like something from a science-fiction thriller. With all this forensic technology, this field is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S. Shows like CSI and NCIS have made most of the forensic science techniques used today common knowledge. You might think that virtually the whole gamut of forensic technology is old hat to today’s savvy viewer. Some of these findings are brand new technologies, while others are new ways of analysing evidence in an established field. Regardless, these innovations are making it harder for criminals to evade detection by forensic scientists. One of the profoundly cool forensic technologies is DNA phenotyping where forensic scientists can sequence a DNA sample and provide investigators with circumstantial traits of the suspect, including hair, eye, and skin colour. Newer techniques can also predict age and biological background. Adapted from:https://blog.ipleaders.in/role-technology-forensic-investigation-police WORD LIST with CEFR Levels 1. infiltrates C2 - menembusi penetrate 2. futuristic C2 - maju kehadapan innovative 3. cutting-edge C1 - teknologi termaju forefront 4. gamut C2 - kepelbagaian Scope/extent 5. old hat B2 - lapuk Old-fashioned 6. savvy C2 - ariff perceptive 7. regardless C1 - Walau bagaimanapun nonetheless 8. evade C1 - mengelak avoid 9. profoundly C1 - sangat hebat greatly/incredibly 10. circumstantial C2 - khusus detailed