2015
Do not look, stare.
Deep Look
Universidad Nacional de Colombia www.deeplook.com 11201312 Ext. 11857
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INDEX
1. Digital photography is not as easy as you might think. 2. Ghost stories and moral.
Page 2 Page 3
Page 4 3. Letter to the Big Ben School 4. How self-study did help me to learn English.
Page 5-6
5. "20 for fit� is Bogota’s new exercise programme.
Page 7
6. Haiku
7. TOEFL INTEGRATED TASK: Altruism Professors on TV.
8. TOEFL INDEPENDENT TASK: Young adults live happier if they live with their family. Youngers lives happier than elders. 9. Shall we ask to the Constitutional Court to reconsider the Anti- Bullfighting popular referendum?
Page 8-9
Page 10 Page 11
Page 12 Page 13 Page 14
10. Forms of transport
Page 16
11. Computer ownership between 2002 and 2010
Page 17
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Digital photography is not as easy as you might think.
Nowadays, digital photography is one of the most popular hobbies and social networks are making it easier than ever without taking care of technique. In first place, social networks use the camera that your smartphone has. The problem with the camera of any smartphone is that they are all missing the diaphragm, lens, aperture value and among other parts that a reflex camera should have -the type of camera to be used in digital photography-. Besides this, social networks use filters and editor options. Those filters make your 3 megapixels photos to look like 25 megapixels photos without thinking about the noise of the background, the ISO, the shutter speed, the opening of the lens, or even the light. Based on this, we see that social networks use nonreflex cameras and editor options to take all the weight and technique off of the user's shoulders.
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Ghost stories and moral. In “The man with two shadows and other short stories” we can see that the main topic among all of them is how there is an extra-natural and paranormal force that goes beyond human capacity and ability. The stories also illustrate how that powerful force usually is related to moral concepts and how actions go back to whom made it (the action). In first place, some examples of how the stories illustrate that paranormal force and how every time that we, humans, interact with it something bad -or unfair- usually has happened or is due to happen. “The ghost detective” is one of those stories in which the ghost was showing the truth. It was showing where the money was and doing justice to the servant. Or as in “The man of the Varley Grange” in which the house is haunted by two ghosts. The background of those two ghosts is full of love between two families and how it is forced to end by the brother of the fiancé, who killed her sister due to jealousy. Secondly, these ghost stories show how bad actions will carry out to be haunted or chased by demons or bad spirits as ghosts are. Besides the two examples above, in “The dream” we see how alcohol is bad under the eyes of Christians (not in vain the priest is called to go the house); it also shows how the main character, who was a thief and a drunk liar person, goes to hell in a dream and is told to stop drinking, so he does so. But, anyways he dies three months later, just for drinking again with a friend of his. Basically, this story shows what is good and bad in the XIXth century and mainly, what is correct in British society.
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Finally, we can see in “The Italian’s story” how moral and paranormal forces interact together to return what is done even knowing that it should not have been done. In this short story, Jacopo Ferraldi kills his nephew in order to steal ￡2000. After it, he is haunted by his nephew’s ghost. Days later, Jacopo returns the money to his nephew’s sister but anyway he is killed and robbed by his servants. The plot of this story shows how his action came back to him not only by being haunted but also by being killed and robbed, as he did to his nephew. So, in this way we see how these all ghost stories describe how a paranormal force which is beyond human capacity, is linked with the idea of “karma” and what is considered correct or incorrect to society.
Letter to the Big Ben School Dear Mr. William. I am writing this letter to you as I saw your advertisement for language courses at the Big Ben School but before taking a decision, I will kindly ask you to please answer these questions. First of all, I would like to know what amenities are nearby to the university such as any movie theatre or café. Also, what resources does the school have? I mean, if there is any library, or language lab where to study in. May I know the prices of each plan and what is included in them? How many students attend the school, and how many there are per class. I was also checking on the website and I was unable to find the CV of any of the teachers, so could you please tell me something about them? Are they qualified teachers? Finally, I am really interested in the accommodation part, so I would like to know every detail about it. Regards, Daniel Ortiz.
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How self-study did help me to learn English.
Studies and researches have shown that in learning languages self-study allows you learn more advanced concepts, and become more efficient. Learning languages is a process that I started by myself and has been working for me for years. Although I am not denying that University and High School did help me, self-learning played a very important role in learning language process. I have been all my life looking forward learning as many languages as I can, and that is the reason why I started to study English by myself since I was in Elementary school but in that time I was not studying as you might think. When I was a child, I was playing video-games in English. For this reason, I was constantly asking my mum about the meanings of the words and idioms. Years later, once I was started High school my passion for English grew long. In sixth and seventh grade, we were thought through Beatles’ songs, films, and some series such as “Smallville” and “Sponge-Bob: Square pants.” In that way, by 8th , 9th grade and so on, I started to study by myself in a serious way. Every day, I listened to English songs, writing down their lyrics and searching for unknown words and writing my own examples applying new words. As I was giving the best of me, the results did not take long time to be seen; by the half of 8th grade, I was being one of the best ones in English class. So, in this way all my process in High school, which started in 6th grade and has not ended proves how, every day, I am learning new and each time more advanced concept that before as my skills improve. Once I graduated from High School and started to study English Philology in the “Universidad Nacional de Colombia” I set a goal for myself, which is to learn at least two new languages before graduating. So
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I kept my old habit of listening songs and watching films in English, but, lately, I started to do the same with French –at the point that I already know how to conjugate the different endings of verbs!!- So, taking the same technique that I applied to learnt English was useful for French as a proof of self-study allows to be more efficient. As a conclusion, we can see through my process with English and French how self-study has a very important role with benefits as being able of learning at my own rhythm with tools that I had chosen based on what I liked. So, we see that self-study allow students to learn at their own rhythm which has benefits such as being more effective and improving passion for studying and, as it was my case, languages.
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“20 for fit” is Bogota’s new exercise programme.
Lately people have become more and more interested in physical activities. But remember, there are different activities than working out in the gym and running in your local park. Nowadays, Bogotá is offering a new exercise programme which is called “20 for fit”. Its name comes from the time that you will have to work out. YES! It will be just 20 minutes (twice per week) instead of spending daily hours in the gym. The reason of this short training time is because you are going to be connected to a German machine which will be sending electrodes to your body. Those electrodes will make each weight, 85 times heavier. The cost of this new programme is 330.000 COP. Pesos monthly but if you take the programme in the non-business hours you will pay $170.000. This new modality is located in the neighbourhoo d of “Chicó” and before working out you should book the machine –which is included in the plan- and the trainer that you prefer. Bogotá: 74th street # 2-86 2nd floor
Tel.: (571) 2112315 20fit74@20forfit.com
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Haiku A Haiku is a Japanese poem which is also known as Hokku. As it is obvious, it was originated in Japan. This is a type of poetry that can be written on many themes, from love to nature.
Structure A Haiku consists of 3 lines and 17 s yllables. Each line has a set number of syllables see below: Line 1 – 5 syllables Line 2 – 7 syllables Line 3 – 5 syllables
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“Who am I here for? May be for Satan or God? Who’s giving me more?”
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TOEFL INTEGRATED TASK
Altruism In many societies altruism is highly valued, but this type of behaviour is not only common to humans but also it was found among animals such as meerkats. Altruism is when one (animal/human) sacrifices something from his/her/its own in order to gain a public and common benefit. The first example of altruism is showed by the text and it is about human beings. This example is nothing more but the fact of sharing food. In this case, the one that is sharing his/her food is gaining nothing. In this point, the lecture adds the fact that, effectively, (he/she) is gaining nothing but a moral reward which is even more valued that physical rewards. Other altruist acts among humans are donating blood and organs to strangers, giving money, giving clothes, among many other activities. In the meerkats case, there is a sentinel who is looking forward any predator while the crew is eating of looking for food. The text says that it “sacrifices food, or even its life, to assist other members of their group.” Although it was believed, that the sentinel sacrifices all of its own, a study presented by the lecture showed that the sentinel eats before going to guard, in that way he can watch for his group as they eat, without feeling rejected or hungry. It was also thought that once the sentinel cries – because a predator is coming- he is more likely to be in danger as it is by itself, the study proved otherwise. The guard, once cries, is the first one to run and is more likely to escape as the group gather together and is easier to be seen and hunted. As a conclusion from these two examples, we see that altruism is not sacrificing totally one’s own in order to gain a public benefit, but it is any act where you give your time, possessions, life, etc. in order to help your our community, as we see in meerkat cases, or to assist some else, as it is human cases.
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Professors on TV Professors are usually think only in university classrooms, giving lectures, doing researcher, and among others. But they, lately, started to appear on TV shows as guest commenting and giving the background of the piece of news that is being exposed. Although the author of the text and many more (and I shall include myself before writing this text) think that it is good for the professor, the lecture proves otherwise recurring to academic reasons. In the academic environment, appearing on TV shows is not well received. The reason of this dislike is based in the believe that “someone who appears on TV shows is not too serious, is not committed enough.” With this argument, TV professors are less likely to receive founds to their researches and are not welcome in lectures given by other professors. Despite the fact mentioned by the reading which is that being a TV professor may advertise the University and help both growing, it takes a lot of time for the professor and as the university is already well-know, the appearance of the professor makes no difference. The professor needs time to travel, to research for the background of the news, to get ready for the cameras. And all this effort is not appreciate as TV shows does not want real lecture and the “intellectual substance” but only the tittle from the university. The lecture gives proves that support the fact that being a professor that appears on TV shows may be not worthy if you are looking forward be recognized in the academic field, because if you accept to those shows, you might be rejected from scholarships, lectures, conferences, among others.
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TOEFL INDEPENDENT TASK
Young adults live happier if they live with their family. Nowadays, young adults start to live by their own as soon as they can, but they take this vital and transcendental decision in a rush without considering all the risks and difficulties that they will need to face as taxes, public services, buying food, etc. Nevertheless, young adults that live with their families live happier as they have more emotional and economic support. Fist, emotional support is key to live healthier and, of course, happier. As young adults arrive to their houses, they will find someone(s) waiting for them. Their family will ask them if they are fine and safe, how was his/her day and if they need something. Those questions and the fact of seeing someone looking forward you, makes the brain to segregate dopamine and other chemicals reactions that makes you feel better, loved, happy –mainly if it was a bad day. On the other side but equal in importance, economic support is highly necessary. If not for food, it will be for clothes, education, recreation and many more. All those young adults that live with their families will have more economic support that those that do not live with their families as the second group is by their own, their family will find harder to accept to help him/her. Having this support takes out a lot of tension and stress of them, making their lifes longer and happier. As a conclusion, all those young adults that live with their families will have a longer, healthier and happier life hat those ones that do not do so. The reason of this is fact, as it was showed, it due to emotional and economic support. Being both vital in order to live a stress-free life.
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Youngers lives happier than elders. Youngers are seen by society as persons that are always happy, that are always thinking about partying and enjoying theirselves. But have you ever think the reason of this? It is nothing more but because of the age that come with the way how they see the world, and because they are always looking toward the future being more than ready to face it. Beside this fact, Youngers live happier mainly as they have founds and resources guaranteed coming from their families. Youngers are considered between 18 to 27 years old, although this may vary depending on the country and cultural believes. At this age, it is typical to be considered as an optimist person (beside those persons that have melancholic thoughts). The reason of this way of viewing the world is related with the age, at this point of the life (as I am young), we are thinking about our society and how we can improve it. It we do not thing in positive way, we are never going to find the prope r way of doing so while elders are thinking about old days and contrasting them with current times but giving no opinion or any solution besides the typical statement: "Old time are always better." And due to this, Youngers are looking forward new changes, experiences to live, and basically, waiting for the future. Beside this way of looking the world, Youngers live happier as they have for granted founds. If they need money for their colleges, university or anything, usually they just need to ask for it to their parents and they will receive, if not the whole amount, at least something. On the other side, elders do not have this support, if they need money, they will need to work hard in order to gain something, and if it is not enough, they will ask bankers for dough and will be in debt. This is the main reason why elders are always stressed thinking about their resources in order to pay their houses (rented or not), the public services, their sons, food and many many more. These two reasons show why youngers live happier than elders, the age that comes with the way of looking the world and the economic resources that youngers have for granted coming from their families.
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Shall we ask to the Constitutional Court to reconsider the AntiBullfighting popular referendum? Bullfight or bullfighting is one of the most well-known Spanish traditions as well one of the most controversial in the whole world, but mainly in Spanish speakers countries. It has been claimed to be a <<ritual>>, a <<ceremony>>, a <<tradition>>, and a <<sort of art>. Colombian law approves this spectacle “in name of the all public rights”(Constitutional Court, 2015) besides being excluded from any legal process by injured animals. Since 2012, Bogotá’s Government has been pushing to change this law and forbid this inherited Spanish tradition that has been celebrated since 1931. Now, I wonder and ask if we, Bogotans, should inquire the Government to make the “anti-bullfighting” popular referendum (which will be appearing as ABPR from now on) in order to, first, execute our right to vote and let the justice hear our voice and, second, save public resources. The fact that the Constitutional Court (from now C.C.) repealed this referendum means that our vote is not worthy to be listened and that state can decide for us without any problem, as we have said or done nothing. The process that has been taken place between Petro’s Government and the Constitutional Court started in 2012 without any public participation. First, Petro asked to modify bullfighting tradition; to what the bullfight corporations refused. To this action, Petro reacted with the termination of the contract of the Bullfighting Corp. saying that his Government “will not promote the torture of any animal as a sort of tradition or art.” (Petro, 2012). Two years after, the C.C. asked Petro to allow the bullfighting as a mayor can not forbid any cultural expression. All this process took three years without any concern of Bogotans, nothing but whispers and chattering in pubs and cafeterias. The last 20th of September, the Constitutional Court repealed the ABPR and with it the only opportunity in hole Bogotan and Colombian history to let the people vote and decide about this controversial –cultural? - Topic. We should say or at least ask to the Government to make the referendum, and not for the topic but for what it means, the background behind it.
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As it is stated before, bullfighting has been in our society since 1931 and we have never say nothing about it, not even if we agree or disagree, and this law is just an example of all laws that we acknowledge without knowing. This popular referendum is just another example of how our laws are more than unknown or if they are known, how society does not care for their rights. ABPR’s process has been as controversial as bullfighting is. This is not more because each two days news says the ABPR will be done and the next day says otherwise. In first place, the referendum was going to be hold the 25th but the C.C. said that there were no enough resources to make it. After a month without any comment and with each governmental institutions refusing, Petro said that his Government will assume the cost although he exposed the solicitude to the National Government to assume costs. The last 24th of September the referendum was cancelled by the Cundinamarcan Court arguing that Petro refused to what the C.C. said to him the last two years; and because of that, in Bogotá is allow the bullfighting and at the Plaza the Toros de Santa María bullfighting should always take place. If we had voted in the previous years and it was still approved, we had let Government know our opinion and we could save public resources as the popular referendum planned to the 25th of October would cost between $12 and 35.000 million (COP), and if for any reason it is made after the 25th, its cost will rise above $35.000 million (COP). Based on this, if we decide to exclaim for our right to vote we should consider the benefits and contras of this act. This ‘ritual’ involves the bull, the bullring, the matador or star bullfighter, the torero or bullfighter who engages in the ultimate death of the bull, the picador or lancer and the banderillero who is a bullfighter on foot who inserts barbed wooden sticks into the bull’s neck muscle. Although, nowadays it is just about the bull and the matador who performs himself as the torero as well as the banderillero, it is still considered by some people as a cultural legacy. After gagging of the bull with a magenta cape, he starts to insert the wood sticks until the 'beast' is unable to walk. Finally, if the matador is brave enough, he will cut an ear of the bull. This is a brief look of the 'ritual' and it is nothing more than the contempora ry version of gladiators fights against lions in Ancient Rome. One path used by the Imperator to win the reputation of the people. It might be art to someone -as what is
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art is extremely subjective-, but it is making our civilization to be stuck in the past, is avoiding the country to intellectually grow since spectators enjoy staring an animal die in an unfair fight as they might enjoy with another human's death. Finally, the AntiBullfighting popular referendum should take place, not only to allow or forbid the bullfighting spectacle but also to finish this senseless and unfair 'sort of art', to let people decide what is art in Bogota, if these type of shows are fair and to finally finish this controversial topic and save public resources in the future -although this topic will be always controversial-.
Forms of transport Nowadays, the amount of cars is growing in an unimaginable rate; in 1888 there was the first car on British roads, and by 2000 there we about 29 million automobiles. But not only cars have grown in quantity, form of transports have been enhanced in their machinery through that century and 12 years. This improvement is up to levels that fuel and petrol are not mandatory to make cars, buses, metres, etc., move. To face the rapid growth of forms of transport industry and production of cars, one might resort to laws. Although the improvement of the industry is important, alternative forms of transport should be introduced and encouraged as they reduce global warming and fuel costs.
Through laws (locals, nationals and internationals) is possible to encourage and promote the use of alternative forms of transport as they reduce global warming. Watching the growing of cars in the United Kingdom, we can tell the rapid development of the industry. Although this development is good for societies, it makes real damage to the environment with consequences as higher temperatures, less water to be consumed, less flora and fauna, among others. By using alternative forms of transport we will reduce the impact of CO2 (Carbon dioxide) which is one the major risks to the Ozone Layer.
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Alternative forms of transport, if encourage by laws that control the usage of car, will reduce the impact of CO2 in the Earth but also will be less expensive that petrol is. That is because the main component being used in fuel, petrol, is being replaced by solar waves receptors, water systems, natural gas and many more that make the cost of fuel decrease in all of the previous systems. Low prices will take place as the components used in such different forms are less expensive and are part of a removable fuel process that is not as limited as ‘black gold’ is. As a conclusion, the rapid growth of cars between 1888 and 2000 shows why the usage of cars should be controlled by laws that encourage the usage of alternative forms of transport as they reduce global warming and are less expensive by using different systems that are as effective as petrol is.
Computer ownership between 2002 and 2010 The bar charts that are presented are showing the percent of computer ownership in a community but not only this, they are also showing the computer ownership by five different education levels (no high-school diploma, high school graduate, collage (incomplete), bachelor’s degree and postgraduate qualification) between 2002 and 2010. Overall, we can see that people with highest education level is more likely to be a computer owner. People without a high school diploma has been the lowest
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percentage since 2002 until 2010, while people with postgraduate qualification has been the highest percentage in the same time frame.
In terms of having no school diploma, in 2002 the percentage of computer ownership was around 15 which increased around the 40% in 2010. As it was mentioned before, the highest percentage has been postgraduate qualification being around 75 and 93% in 2002 and 2010 respectively. As we go up by education level the percentage of computer ownership will be more, high school graduate was 39 and 69 %, incomplete college was 55 and 85%, and Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree was 70 and 90% all percentages in 2002 and 2010 respectively. As a conclusion of these bar charts, we can see that as high the education level is, the computer ownership will be no matter the year.
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