5th Reading

LADIES FIRST

http://www.geocities.com/yamataro670/Ladiesfirst.htm

SUMMARY

The reading deals with the idea that women have always been treated with some social preferences by men. Though they were always considered as the “fair sex”, and they have been traditionally placed “in the home”, they are politely or gently awarded to be “the first” in many situations. According to the text, this kind of privilege is still given to them even though the “Women’s Liberation Movement” has made them feel equal to or at the same social status than men. At least, as the author refers in the text, “none of them seem to object to the rule of “Ladies First”.


COMENT

My opinion is that women has been, are, and should be always considered and treated as “ladies”. That is why I think that “Ladies First” is the right or proper rule not only for women, but for men too. What I mean is that the courtesy or gentle treat towards ladies talks about the man condition in the same sense of women condition. So, for me, to be a “man” necessary has to imply letting women be the first. But this aspect has to be learned and practiced, and may be that is the reason why today ladies are not the first any more; not only because they want to be equal to men, but because young male people has not learned to treat women as ladies.

Jaime Pérez

4th Reading

BIOFUELS

Taken from EnglishClub.com at http://bl137w.blu137.mail.live.com/mail/ReadMessageLight.aspx?Aux=4%7c0%7c8CA7A40925C63C0%7c&FolderID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&InboxSortAscending=False&InboxSortBy=Date&ReadMessageId=fceb0237-3331-4977-8321-4b8f9e8452b7&n=538123120

SUMMARY

According to the reading, the answer to worldwide energy situation could be the use of “greener” fuels made from plants, which are called “Biofuels”. In the text it is stated that these new fuels have the main advantage of being less pollutant than traditional biofuels because, wile being burnt, they don’t add more carbon dioxide (CO2) to the environment than the amount of CO2 they use up while growing. Nevertheless, it is also stated in the reading that this type of green fuels have two important disadvantages: they produce less energy than what is required to produce them and, still worse, large areas of land are needed to produce the crop for biofuels, what means less land available for cultivating food.

COMMENT

Particularly, I think that the answer to energy crisis it is not biofuels by themselves. They seem to be a good idea because, among the all alternative source of energy, they are capable to produce grater quantity of power supply, but cultivate tracts of land for fuel, instead for food, is something no too easy to deal with. So, it is my opinion that while the best alternative to petrol is found, we’ll have to combine all of the sources we have already developed, and what is the most important, we have to “save” as most energy as possible!

Jaime Pérez

3rd Reading

Study Examines Video Game Play Among Adolescents

Adapted from materials provided by JAMA and Archives Journals, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070702161141.htm

SUMMARY

According to a report in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, in The Science Daily (July 4, 2007), playing video game is not the main cause for scholars and adolescents not to spend much time with their parents and friends. The background information in the article suggests that adolescents are concern about the bad influence video games gave on them at that stage o life. A survey data collected by professionals from the universities of Michigan and Texas, from a notionally representative sample of boys and girls between 10 to 19 year olds, during 2002 to 2003 school year revealed that, even though 80 percent boys and only 20 percent girls played video games, the time spent was the same for them both. According to the survey the time spent by adolescents playing video games are related with less time reading and doing homework, but it is not directly related with spending less time with their parents or friends.


COMMENT

It is my opinion that, what the study in the article concluded is very interesting because it is commonly accepted that video games are responsible for today’s children and adolescents be so individualist and unsociable, apart for the lack of concentration and dedication to their school responsibilities. However, it is not so difficult to understand that the time boys and girls spend or not with their parents or friends has nothing to be with playing video games or not, but with other aspects of their relationship.

Jaime Pérez