SPRING, 2000
inside... Articles Poems Short stories Letters Crossword puzzles Jokes Etc...
IMPORTANT! Students are invited to contribute to this magazine. Best writing(s) will receive prize(s). You can submit your writings to their teachers of English or send them to this address:
A STUDENTS’ MAGAZINE
ISSUE N°2
Editorial ear student, We are very pleased to come out with the second issue of Marrakech Express .This pedagogical magazine is mainly meant for you to read and to rejoice. It has been the product of your fellow-students from different high schools in Marrakech and from different levels. The aim of this work is to encourage our students’ creative and artistic use of English. It is also a sort of forum given to those ambitious students whose learning is not only exam–oriented but to communicate their ideas and feelings to their friends and also to share their fellow's stand-points concerning different issues. This magazine reflects also the good level attained by some of our good students in writing. It can also be set as an example to follow and as an encouragement to others to take part in the development and enrichment of our magazine. So any effort on your part no matter how plain it is will be appreciated and taken into consideration . Finally, we seize this opportunity, to express our thankfulness and gratitude to all those students and teachers who have contributed to the production of this magazine . The local board of Mohamed Ejjakhch (MATE), MATE Lycée Moussa Bnu Noussair, S.Y.B.A., MARRAKESH (The Moroccan Association of Teachers of E-mail: marmatelb@hotmail.com English)
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the passengers made to flee the fatal dis-
« Film Review » Last year, I saw one of the best films at
aster of sinking. The special effects were
the Rif cinema with my friends. The title of
wonderful and the ship was colossal.
the film was « The Titanic ». The film was a
The passengers were seized by panic and
love story starring Leonardo Dicaprio and
felt powerless. The film was three hours
Kate Winslet. The first actor played the role
long and full of suspense. I found it very
of Jack who was from a poor family and Kate
interesting.
played the role of Rose who was from an up-
My final opinion was that «The Titanic » is really worth seeing.
per class. The film was about the hopeless efforts
All for you
Rmili Chtaînni / 3LM
If you were blind …
You can't read my mind Every word I've said , Since you can't light my candle. Every landscape I've drawn, You can't give me a hand Everywhere I've gone, To show the way to the blind . Every dream I've dreamt, All this is for you ! For me there's no even land Every candle I've lit, For me all is black; Everything I've created, A limitless ocean of darkness ; Every flower I've picked, No light ... no secure track ; All my mind, all my heart, Besieged by a wall of loneliness.. I was born near you All this is for you ! And I'm bound to die for you. I'll do whatever All my self, all my soul You'd like me to do. Mohamed Kamal /1LM Orbits around you ! I'll go wherever Everything I've done,
What kind of person am I ? My birthday is on June 15th, so I'm of Gemini. Gemini is the sign of twins. There are two distinct characteristics of this changeable personality. Geminis are restless, energetic, impatient people, but they are good at solving problems. They are sympathetic and friendly with an acute sense of humour. Yet they dislike routine. Khadija Ben Bouziane / 1SM
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Once a Flower Said to Me
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I saw trodden flowers ; broken boughs,
When I was in the woods ,
I saw litter trash.
A red flower talked to me ;
"It's man's fault", she went on,
" Look at this beauty around you ;
"He cuts the trees down ;
Look at this brightness ;
He throws waste everywhere ;
Look at this landscape ;
his cars empoison the air ;
there are trees everywhere ;
He spoils the atmosphere".
green grass and multicoloured flowers ;
I thought and saw evidence there!
Look at that stream running ;
Then I heard a mild wind say :
Nourishing nature with pure water,"
"To my advice do not be dead ;
What the flower said was clear !
Save nature and life will be safe".
An instant later, she went on,
Fouzia Lakhmour / 2sc
"Look over there, where some people were!".
The working children Recently the world has celebrated
The employers, profiting from
the terrible consequences of this
the child international day. On
the anarchy of the political sys-
problem. Physically, these children
this day, people throughout the
tems of their countries and try-
may be subject to deformity of the
world are made aware of child's
ing to benefit from the prevail-
body. Psychologically, these chil-
rights. Yet many children, espe-
ing economic crisis, prefer to
dren feel they are depressed and
cially in third world countries, are
employ children
at very low
persecuted. Deprived of education,
still abused and maltreated.
wages. These employers know
they become illiterate citizens.
Among the black spots
that children won't claim their
These children nourish an acute
smearing the human conscience is
rights and won't organize them-
hatred for adults. Once they grow
the problem of the working chil-
selves into workers associa-
up older, they try to take revenge
dren. Some families are so poor
tions. Moreover, these children
from society by committing the
that they have to send their chil-
aren't insured against accidents
worst of crimes.
dren to work in order to win extra
and against health hazards.
Beside the appeals of the
wages. The income of many par-
Girls also are not safe.
UNICEF, all governments and all
ents is too low to support their
Most of them are employed as
people must do something to abol-
families. So the main cause of this
maids. They're maltreated and
ish employing children. A child
social problem is poverty.
given the most difficult tasks to
needs a school to go to. A child
More often, these children
do. Sometimes they are obliged
must be given enough freedom to
work in terrible conditions. They
to work as prostitutes and they
play. Finally, a child should live
do some tasks harder than their
are exploited both physically
his childhood fully and joyfully.
small bodies. They often work as
and sexually.
miners, mechanics, masons, etc..
Everybody can imagine
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Fouzia Lakhmour / 2 sc.
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Professor Gayle’ s house Professor Gayle has a big beautiful house outside Tetuan. It has got three floors: the ground floor, the first floor and the second floor. On each floor, there are a balcony and two windows: one
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on the right and the other on the left. Behind the house, there is a big hill. On the right of the house, there is a garage. On the left, there is a banana tree. What a lovely house! Malika Bamhamed / 2LM
Doctor & patient jokes Abdelaziz Belkarchouf / 3LM
Doctor , doctor , I am all right ? No , half of you is left . Where do you take a sick horse ? To horspital Man: Doctor, doctor, my family says I'm crazy . Doctor: Why ? Man: Because I like Sausages. Doctor: That's all right. I like sausages too. Man: Really ? Then you should come and see my collection. I've got hundreds at home.
Looking for a true friend I'm looking for a faithful friend, but I can't find one in this world. Some of them befriend me just because I am funny. They are beside me just when I am wealthy and healthy. Once I lose everything I have no
Doctor, doctor, everyone thinks I'm a liar. I don’t believe you. Doctor, doctor, I've lost my memory. When did that happen ? When did what happen ? Doctor: Mr Nejim, that pain in your leg is due to old age. Mr Nejim: Well, my other leg is the same age and it doesn't hurt.
one beside me ... They forsake me for another. That's why I have decided not to trust anyone anymore. As far as friends are concerned, I'll never forgive myself for being so stupid. Khalid El Quarbali
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Taking care of the handicapped To be in good health is undoubtedly the best gift ever given to man. This is why being handicapped is the worst of all ill-fortunes that may strike an individual. The worst of a disabled person's feelings is that he feels different from other people. He or she is unable to lead a normal life like others. For this reason, handicapped people should be given special care. In spite of their physical disability, they should be encouraged to participate in all possible fields and in all social activities. Instead of living at the margin of society, they ought to be integrated in social life. For example, they should be educated side by side with other children. Special sport tournaments must be organized for them. To overcome their physical limitation, they must be taught and trained to practise certain jobs. Their artistic and creative talents must be encouraged and taken into consideration. Handicapped people should feel that they are properly cared for . They mustn't feel that they are despised or misunderstood. A smile of sympathy and compassion from our part will give them enough hope and courage to lead a happy life and to overcome their physical limitation.
Forgetting about death Proverbs : What's life if it's full of tears ?
Don't judge a book by its cover. Prevention is better than cure. When we haven't got what we like, we must like what we have. He who loves not his country can love nothing. A man's home is his castle. Many hands make work light . Don't put all your eggs in one basket. If the shoe fits, wear it. Look before you leap. You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Never put off until tomorrow what must be done today. Every why has a wherefore. Belkharchouff Abdelaziz / 3LM
What's life if it's full of fears ? Every day troubles ... No hope, no way out. I listen to the same song of sadness. I wonder why I'm always thought to be wrong. I find no true friends around ; Just empty bodies and sounds. I need them here beside me. Faithful to me, I want them to be. No one can hear when you cry ; No one can help when you try Like a caged bird, I dream to be free ... To fly high and see what others are unable to see. I want to change the world Shaping an Eden of peace. Before I leave this world yielding my last breath I want to live, forgetting about death. Hafsa Zouita / 3LM
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A WALK IN THE RAIN
In a rainy afternoon, I went out for a walk. I was one of those who take delight in the cyclic changes of the seasons. My hands in the pockets of my raincoat and my ears in the collar, I walked in the drizzle. My legs led me to the park of the town. Though it was a bit foggy, I could see the trees and the bush dripping and glistening in the wet weather. So I went into the park feeling the freshness of the place and contemplating the greenness of the plants in the park. I smiled at the thought that I was the only crazy man walking in the rain. As I was walking on, the smell of smoke coming from a corner of the park made me stop. I turned to see. About five children were sitting under a sort of a hut around a fire. My curiosity drove me up to them. As they saw me coming, they half stood ready to run away, but seeing there was nothing threatening about me, they sat again. On the fire there was a sort of big cylindrical fishcan boiling. In this pot were swimming a few snails already half cooked. Most of the five children were between ten and twelve years old. All of them were poorly dressed, wearing dirty clothes hardly covering their bodies. Two of them were bare footed ; their shorts were covered with mud. I read malice and intelligence in their bright eyes. In spite of their young age and poor appearance, they looked stout and sturdy like little savages. As they were no longer afraid of me, they were looking at me smilingly. «What are you doing here in such a wet weather ? » I asked. «Cooking and trying to keep warm,» said the tallest boy. «Snails make an ideal meal to keep us warm.,» he went on.
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«We’ve picked them from the cemetery. Myriads of them in the bush in such a wet weather,» said another boy. «Your parents must be worried about you,» said another. «My step-mother has chased me of the house,» said the smallest of them «Where do you live ? » I asked. «Wherever there is a shed for us,» said their chief. «There’s enough food for us in garbage bins,» said another boy. I took out a bank-note from my pocket and gave it to the chief. «Get some proper food for the boys,» I said as I walked away. I left the park. The rain started to fall a bit harder. I walked along the bridge over the river. I found myself in « Ouasis », a district where well to do people of the town live. I continued my way along an avenue on the sides of which there were huge trees. Behind the fences, there were white washed villas. Just as I was walking past the garden of one of them , a hilarious music reached my ears. I stopped and l e a n e d against the fence. The grass of the garden was neatly cut and looked fresh in the weather. There was a swimming-pool in the garden. Four cars were parked in front of the porch. The house seemed to be a ship sailing in a foggy sea. Through the large windows of the downstairs floor, a party was going on. Small children dressed in white dresses and suits were dancing around a birthday-cake. In the light, they looked like butterflies dancing around a lamp.
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Now a torrential rain started to whip my face, so I left coming back home. This time I walked hurriedly. On my way home, I was thinking unconscious of the rain. There was a storm in my mind. Myriad of questions crossed my brain. I had seen two contradictory scenes : The world of the rich and the world of the poor.
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Why does life favour some people and crush others under its heels ? Why do some people live luxuriously while others starve ? Why do some children have rosy prospects while others are condemned to hopelessness . Why man is indifferent to the sufferings of his fellow-man? Idriss Bejjghit / 3 LM
An ambitious girl
A few idiomatic expressions
Salwa was a very good student. She always worked very hard in order to realize her dreams. However, her father was cruel to her. He always said that she would never
As innocent as a dove As stupid as a donkey As silent as the grave As hard as stone As quick as lightning As loud as thunder As blue as the sea As sweet as honey As sharp as a razor
succeed in her life and that she would never be as good as her brothers. He always had terrible ideas about women in general. He thought that she had better stay at home and learn how to be a good housewife. She was not allowed to express her opinions. She always believed that there is no difference between boys and girls and she was determined to prove this fact. Year after year, she succeeded and then she finished her university studies successfully. Later she got a job as a
As black as midnight As brave as a lion As bold as a lion As white as snow As busy as a bee As red as a rose As easy as A.B.C. As free as the air As sour as vinegar.
lawyer. She was brilliant in her career. On the other hand, her brothers were a failure and a big disappointment to their father's hopes. When her father heard of her success, he could not believe it. He said that his attitude toward his daughter was wrong. Yet, his pride prevented him from expressing his joy openly. He pretended to ignore her success. Salwa, however, forgave her father. She felt happy because she had proved that boys were no better than
Selected by Rabie Laamiri / 3LM
girls. After all, she still loved her father and respected him. It was not his fault; it was his ignorance and arrogance.
Loubna Azriga / 3 LM
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To be continAmal was born in Marrakech . She came from a big family , she grew up with four sisters and two brothers. Her parent’s were illiterate. Her father had a good job, but the problem was that he was a drunkard who squandered all this money on alcohol. Amal was quite a beautiful, well-educated girl. she was also a hard-walking and brilliant student. However her father never cared for her or reward her. To escape from this situation, she spent most of her time with her friend Amina. To relieve herself from her pain, Amal always kept a diary. She started writing since she was a pupil in a primary school. I was one of those few girls she trusted. Once she allowed me to have a look at it. This is an example of what she had written: November 14th, 1982 Today is my birthday . I am ten years old now. Yesterday my father came back home at midnight. He obliged me to get up and prepare something to eat for him. I couldn’t get up because of my feet which were aching me . He thought that I did not want to get up, so he took a stick and flogged me aggressively. I hate him ……. June 5th, 1991 My mother died this morning . My father had beaten her to death. He was taken to prison . I saw what had happened. They took me to hospital… I suffered much during my life since I was a little girl ……. I went to forget and make a new start. Khaoula Elazadi / 3 LM
I wan
Day dreams , t to be someone
no one; But alas! I am idst millions; only a name am op in a sea ! Like a water dr in spring ! Like a dead leaf mething ; I want to do so y, to win fame, To achieve glor m; it's only a drea but I'm afraid , gst many others A dream amon come true. Unlikely to be of light. Yet I see a ray another mirage? Is it hope? Is it s me strength Anyway, it give endless fight. To keep on my / 3sc Leila Rachad
Something ca lled "Fate" Sitting alone in my room, Feeling so pess imistic, Remembering all the good an d bad memorie s, I listen to sad m usic. Talking to mys
elf, Thinking abou t my destiny, Watching som e pictures of m y classmates, Feeling sorry fo r my last years, I think about m y misfortune. Shutting the w indows for bette r concentration, Switching off the light for be tter relaxation, Dreaming of a happy and quie t life, Shaking of my worries and da rk thoughts, I believe there is something ca lled fate.
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POVERTY The world today suffers from many different problems which threaten the security of each society. Among these problems, there is poverty which is considered as one of the most serious problems especially in Third World countries where there is a close link between poverty and other social problems such as unemployment, illiteracy, crimes, immigration, starvation and many others. The danger of poverty is increasing little by little because so far we haven’t yet found
solutions for this problem that really deserves to think about. We all think that poverty is a very difficult problem because it threatens our life. So why can’t we think seriously about the causes of poverty and why can’t we do our best to fight it? I think everybody must be involved in this fight. Governments should help poor people and give them the necessary financial support ; they can also create opportunities for young people to get jobs so that they can participate in the development of their so-
cieties. A programme of contribution should be announced to urge everybody to help. Mass-media can also play an important role to make people aware of this problem. To make our efforts fruitful, we must feel concerned because poor people have not chosen to be poor, and it might be my situation or yours. That’s why we should help a lot. Poor people also have the right to lead a decent life. They shouldn’t feel that they live at the margin of society. They need our affection and consideration before our money. Zeroual Halima / 3 LM
The mystery of time For every measurement, we need a convenient unit neither too large nor too small. From London to New York is too far to measure in inches or centimetres. Our lives are too long for seconds but too short for centuries. The year-long calendar serves us well for most purposes but, away from the earth, there are other kinds of ‘years’. Some planets are further away from the sun and, therefore, take longer to travel round it. Saturn’s ‘year’ is nearly thirty times longer than ours. Neptune takes one hundred and sixty-five of our years to complete its orbit, and Pluto nearly two hundred and fifty. Our earth is not only spinning on its axis every day but also travelling round the sun every three hundred and sixty-five days; the axis itself is slowly changing
direction. This was discovered by the Greeks many centuries ago. The northern end of the axis points to a position very close to that of the Pole Star, but is gradually moving round a path which is nearly circular. In centuries to come, other stars will mark the North Pole of the heavens and, similarly, the Southern Pole. The northern end of the axis completes this almost circular path in about 26,000 years, a period sometimes called the Great Year. Our sun and its planets are only part of the vast star system or the Galaxy, called Milky Way. This, too, is revolving like a gigantic Catherine wheel of a hundred thousand million stars. We are moving round with it at a speed of about 150 miles every second, but a complete revolution takes over two hundred million years. It is all part of the unfathomable mystery of ‘time’. Taken from Saudi Gazette, The Fun Times, Friday, January 1st, 1999
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The wound of the past Amina was sitting alone at home, watching a film on T.V when she heard a loud music coming from the neighbours' house. She knew that Aïcha, the neighbours' daughter was going to get married in a few days and that her family was preparing everything for the wedding party. Just then Amina remembered her own case. She was not as young as the bride; she was much older than her and she hadn't yet been married in spite of her beauty. This was the real cause of her misery. Amina went to help her neighbours because it was a duty in their neighbourhood to help each other in case of need. The bride, Aïcha, was very happy to see Amina. So she took her to her room and started to show her all the gifts her future husband had brought her. Looking at all the beautiful and smart things, Amina seemed to be excited. However, within her a strange feeling of jealousy started to gnaw. Aïcha couldn't help being talkative and she started talking excitedly about her lovely prospective husband, but she didn't notice the sad face of Amina who recalled what had happened to her when she was younger. It was the name of the groom that brought that flashback in her mind. Moukhtar was the name of the groom. It was also the name of the man Amina loved once. The man had been a good looking, strong, tender and lovely gentleman. Amina had fallen in love with him, and she used to meet him although she knew that her parents would not admit that kind of relationship. For Amina, Moukhtar had been a dream. Because she did not want to lose him, she was docile and obedient to him.
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She used to decline to all his demands and wishes. She had been blind in loving him and had trusted him so much. One day, he had asked her to go with him to his house so that he would introduce her to his mother. She had been foolish to accept. There had been no one in the house. Driven by her emotions, she committed the worst mistake in her life. After that incident, Moukhtar disappeared and she hadn't seen him ever since. Amina was regretful, but there was no use regretting. A few days later, she was relieved for at least she wasn't pregnant. Yet, Moukhtar was always in her mind. Aïcha was still speaking about everything and nothing. She thought Amina was listening. That was why she took Amina’s hand and said tenderly and truthfully: « Do you know darling? I expect that, in m y wed d i n g-p art y, you’ll meet the man of your dreams. » The day of the weddingparty came at last. Sitting in her chair quietly, Amina was listening to music and looking at the guests; she knew almost all of them and she was smiling all the time. In appearance, Amina looked very pretty and happy, but in fact she was suffering silently. No one knew that except for her old mother who was sitting beside her. The mother was sure that no one would accept to marry her daughter. It was Amina’s fate to live in disgrace! The extreme surprise was when the bride and the groom came out. In spite of the splendid beauty of Aïcha, Amina didn’t heed her. Her eyes were focussed on the groom who was smiling at his guests while he was walking round to meet them. Amina couldn’t believe her eyes, but she went on
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looking at him. The bride thought Amina was looking at her and that she wanted to tell her something, but what the poor bride didn’t know was that the man who was holding her hand was the same man who had once considered Amina as a toy; once he had got what he wanted, he let her down . As the party was going on, Moukhtar happened to see Amina. He was shocked and upset. He tried to keep his calmness , but in vain. The unexpected meeting with Amina vexed him enormously . When it was Amina’s turn to congratulate the bride and groom, she walked trembling towards them. She felt that the ground was shaking under her feet. Moukhtar’s face was like a fox’s. She didn’t want to shake hands with him, but she was obliged to. Amina whispered to Aïcha that she had a slight headache and that she had to go home, promising to see
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her again soon. She spent a sleepless night crying. Day in , day out, Amina met both Aïcha and Moukhtar. The latter tried many times to speak to her, but every time Aïcha interfered. When he found the right moment, he tried to convince Amina that he still loved her, but she was no longer that stupid, easy-going girl. He wanted to have a secret relationship with her again. Not only was it enough for him to destroy her life, but he aimed to ruin the life of her friend too. Amina didn’t want her friend to suffer and she didn’t want to betray her closest friend. So she invited Moukhtar to the sittingroom and went to the kitchen from which she brought a knife… From her apartment, Aïcha heard a loud cry. She ran towards Amina’s house where some neighbours were standing, looking at two corpses swimming in a pond of blood. Loubna Ouaouzar
« The Green March » The Spaniards colonized the Moroccan Sahara for a long time, but the Moroccan people didn’t stay still. They always asked for independence. So in 1975, his Majesty Hassan II gave a speech to the Moroccan people asking them to volunteer so as to march to the Moroccan Sahara. 350,000 volunteers came from different parts of Morocco and set off to Tarfaya. On November 6th, the king ordered the volunteers to march and to trespass the boundaries set up by the Spaniards. So they marched holding the Coran and brandishing the Moroccan flags. The march was called «green» because the volunteers had no weapons. The king insisted that it should be peaceful. The green march was successful. Thanks to this clever strategy, Morocco won the Sahara back. From that day, the Moroccan people celebrate the 6th November of every year as a national day. El Yassini-Ighiour-Mahmoudi
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The Lock Ness Monster In Scotland , there is a popular legend about a monster. The monster lives in a lake called Loc Ness , near the town of Inverness. Lock Ness is 32 Kms long, 5 Kms wide and very, very deep. The monster's name is Nessie. People say that she is very big and has got a long neck, like a snake .
But does Nessie really exist? Some people say yes; some say no. Scientists are exploring the lake
with
cameras
and
other
equip-
ment.Sometimes, they see mysterious things of Lock Ness . The legend of the monster is very famous, and millions of tourists from all over the world come to Lock Ness. Everybody wants to be the first person to see Nessie. Come to Scotland and Lock Ness - that first person may be you ! Chosen by Asmaa Charane 1LM
Some misconceptions about food Are cheese, creams and eggs healthy foods? It is a common misconception that over-dependence on cheese, creams, eggs and snacks made from these are good for health. The truth is that they are high in fat content and eating excessive quantities of these would only lead to extra inches around the waist. Many people fool themselves by eating salads with dressing like mayonnaise and salad oils. These dressings just heighten flavours but in the process destroy the benefits of salads because of the fat content in these oil-based dressings.
weight gain. Like sugar, Salt should be consumed in moderation and if possible, natural It depends on your consump- alternatives should be used tion. If you are a guzzler then instead. the effect will obviously be harmful. If, however, you are Are ready-to-eat snacks really the moderate type, coffee and junk food? tea may have little damaging Yes most of them are, accordeffect on your health. But that ing to nutritionists. Sweets and is, provided you drink no more chocolates add to weight and than a cup or two a day and destroy teeth. Snacks like that too they should contain as chips and fritters made from little coffee or tea leaves as potatoes, rice, corn or any possible. Strong brews are a other raw product are usually health hazard because of their high in salt content and deep caffeine content. fried in fight and in the process not just lose most of their food value but would make you add Is salt a ‘natural’ killer? Excessive use of salt can have kilos rapidly. a very negative effect on a perTaken from Oman Daily son’s health. It makes the body Observer, Features, retain fluids resulting in 14 July, 1998 Are tea and coffee really harmful for health?
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EARTHQUAKE SCIENCE An earthquake is a shaking or sliding of the earth’s crust. Earthquakes happen when rocks inside the earth move. As the rocks move, they may form new cracks in the crust. Sometimes, the movement of the rocks makes the land move up, down, or sideways. Earthquakes often happen along weak places in the earth’s crust, where two of the earth’s ‘plates’ meet. These weak places are called “faults”. Most earthquakes are too weak for people to notice. However, some earthquakes are strong enough to shake buildings. The walls of buildings might fall down during a strong earthquake. Scientists try to predict earthquakes. Knowing when an earthquake will happen can save lives. People would have time to go to a safe place. If you are indoors during an earthquake, stay away from windows and furniture that could slide or fall over. If outdoors stay away from high buildings and other objects that could fall. Watch out for trees and telephone wires!
They also learned how to make a special kind of light, called a laser. Laser One of the cleverest signs that the earth is al- light travels long distances in a very ways changing is an earthquake. Many areas of straight line. Lasers can make measurethe world have earthquakes frequently. Most of ments over long distances. them are small, but some are very dangerous. Scientists have been studying the causes New technology of earthquakes. They know that large pieces of Today, Scientists shoot laser light at crust called plates cover the earth. Plates move satellites from ground stations. These only a few millimetres each year. Earthquakes stations are on each edge of a plate in occur when two plates hit each other or move the earth’s surface. Scientists time how apart. If scientists could tell when the earth- long the laser takes to reflect back from quakes might happen, they might help save the satellite. Computers record the time lives. and the position of the satellite. If the light travels back faster or slower, the station must have moved. This helps The breakthrough people measure shifts in the earth’s Scientists looked for ways to crust. Then they can predict that an keep track of small moveearthquake is likely to occur. However, ments of the earth’s surface. no one can tell exactly where or when Several discoveries in the an earthquake will hit. 1960s gave them the tools
PREDICTING EARTHQUAKES The problem
they needed. Scientists learned how to send satellites into space.
Taken from Saudi Gazette, The Fun Times, August 20th, 1999.
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ISSUE 2
SPRING 2000
Taken from English Teachig FORUM, Volume 36, N° 1, Jan-Mar 1998
WEATHER WORDS Rain cuts and dogs: rain very heavily Fair weather friend: a person who is loyal in good times but not when times are difficult A whirlwind tour: a very quick and superficial tour without any time to go into or observe details To go through some place like a tornado: to speed through somewhere causing major change and/ or destruction on the way through To be cloudy about something: to be unsure of or unfocused about something To have one’s head in the clouds: to not have a grasp or understanding of the reality of a situation Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot: a bad incident will not likely happen to the same person twice To be full of hot air: to say a lot of empty, meaningless words; to not know what one is talking about To be windy: to be very talkative without necessarily saying much that is substantive
To have a down pour of something: to have a deluge or a considerable amount of something To strike like lightning: to hit hard and fast either physically or verbally Save it for a rainy day: to save something, usually money for possible future need Under a cloud: less than entirely trustworthy, suspected of some wrong doing Under the weather: not well, ill Take something by storm: to rush in and take something with considerable force, often causing pain and destruction Shoot the breeze: to chat or to pass time by chatting, to talk idly See which way the wind blows: to determine what actions or words will be popular or acceptable to one’s superior, to the people who controls one’s job, or to one’s counterparts when one has to gain something by it, even though such actions or words may not be what one sincerely wants to do or say
Rain on someone’s parade: to spoil or dampen someone’s happy feelings Get a second wind: to get a second burst of energy Dawn on someone: finally realise something that was perhaps already apparent to others Clear the air: to resolve hidden resentment or uncover hidden thoughts Brainstorm: to suggest any idea that comes into mind in an attempt to find a solution to a problem Give someone a snow job: to give someone a description of something or someone that is overly or unrealistically attractive and positive Leave someone out in the cold: to shun someone; to exclude someone from a place or activity Out of the blue: unexpectedly, and often suddenly Take the wind out of someone’s sails: to deflate someone’s ego or to ruin or destroy someone’s high expectations Steal someone’s thunder: to steal someone’s idea or words before he or she can share them.
Published under the auspices of MATE local branch of Marrakech
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MARRAKECH EXPRESS
ISSUE 2
SPRING 2000
CROSSWORD P UZZLE 1
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ACROSS :
1- Opposite of cheap. 2- Tony will never…………………second hand things again. 3- Prices can be either………….….or low. 4- The shopkeeper is very nice, so he’s got a lot of …………….…. 5- Someone who sells. 8- I’m going to ………… some shopping. 11- The mechanic did…………do the work. 12-Hamid hasn’t had his car re paired…………… 13- You can either walk to the market …………take a bus. 15- Tony’s mother, who lives in Manchester, is called ………..…Robinson. 16- She goes ……………the shops once a week.
4 - How much does this book ……..... ? 6 - Buy now and………… later. that’s what buying on credit means. 7 - Businessmen are people who buy and …………things. 8 - Short for « Dirham » 9 - Opposite of « yes » 10 - I can’t buy it because I haven’t got enough…………… 14 - Tony’s first car was cheaper than the second. The second cost…………. 15 - Country people sell their fruit and vegetables in the………… 17 - Where you buy shoes. Suggested by: Abdelaziz Belkharchouf / 3LM
Published under the auspices of MATE local branch of Marrakech
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MARRAKECH EXPRESS
ISSUE 2
SPRING 2000
مراكش- الفرع المحلي
THE MOROCCAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH (MATE) MARRAKECH LOCAL BRANCH
Printed by: L’Imprimerie Al Watanya, Marrakech, Tel.: (04) 30 37 74 LG Published under the auspices of MATE local branch of Marrakech
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