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Audio Transcripts:

Carole: I really enjoyed Paris Fashion Week, Dad.

Dad: Me too. Watching designers present their collections was fun.

Carole: Yeah. The French are stylish, with scarves and complementing handbags. Plus, the neutral color schemes of browns and creams add to their sophisticated looks.

Dad: I don’t dress anything like them, do I?

Carole: Nope. But other countries are renowned for fashion too, and their outfits are more casual.

Dad: Really?

Carole: For example, Brazilians’ exotic style includes bold patterns, focusing on color and comfort. Jeans are a wardrobe staple.

Dad: Brazilian women are stunning.

Carole: They spend 11 times more on makeup than the British, so I bet they are!

Dad: That’s strange because they attempt to achieve a natural look. They wear light cosmetics and want to be complimented on their radiant skin.

Carole: Interesting. I have to say though, Denmark is my favorite fashion center. The winter weather there is chilly, so warmth is essential. Yet, Danes look so trendy!

Dad: I’ve never noticed Danish fashion before.

Carole: Everyone has an extensive scarf and sweater collection. Long tops, leggings, and knee-high boots are common with girls.

Dad: I’ve sure learned a lot from you today!

GETTING READY

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VOCABULARY DRILL

Audio Transcripts:

Yoga With benefits for everything from improving posture to relieving stress, it’s easy to see why

people love yoga. Jennifer Aniston is a fan of flo-yo. It combines yoga and stand-up paddle boarding, so part of the class takes place on water! Another current yoga fad is doga. Usually, bringing your dog along to a workout is taboo, but in doga, owners and their dogs perform stretches together. It may sound eccentric, but owners claim it strengthens the bond between them and their pets.Male Beauty

In the past, men spent enormous amounts of money on perfumes and cosmetics. After Alexander the Great defeated the Persian King Darius, he punished him by destroying his makeup box! Tending to one’s appearance hasn’t been considered masculine since the 1800s, but now it’s back in style. There has been a recent increase in focus on men’s skin care. It’s also in vogue for men to remove excessive body hair. Body Piercing

Body piercing has been practiced since ancient times. Ötzi the Iceman is the oldest preserved body discovered, and he wore an earring that measured a half inch around! Earlobe stretching is popular in African tribes, and it has recently reached trend status in Western culture. People insert plugs into a standard-sized piercing to expand the hole. Plugs are only a few of the many jewelry pieces Elaine Davidson wears. She holds the Guinness World Record for most piercings. Reports say she has a total of 6,925!

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Audio Transcripts:

Linda: I’ve been thinking about my future career. I’m not sure what job I want, Nathan, but it can’t be boring!

Nathan: I agree, Linda.

Linda: What about a position in medicine? That could be exciting.

Nathan: Working as a lab technician wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary.

Linda: True, but being a flight nurse would be out in left field.

Nathan: What does that entail?

Linda: A flight nurse ensures that patients who become ill abroad are comfortable during their journey home.

Nathan: That doesn’t sound great. How do you feel about manual labor?

Linda: Construction and manufacturing jobs are pretty run of the mill.

Nathan: Yes, but underwater welders earn high salaries because they need to have both diving and welding skills. It’s something else!

Linda: Hmm. I think I’d prefer something indoors.

Nathan: You enjoy drinking tea, so why not run a teahouse?

Linda: Teahouses are a dime a dozen.

Nathan: Well, tea testers determine if the taste of tea meets a certain standard. That responsibility would be far out. Maybe that’s what I’ll do then.

EXPRESSION PRACTICE

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

Cozy Cotton Cozy Cotton has all your organic cotton needs! Regular cotton is behind the

times due to its damage to the environment. Over 16 percent of the world’s pesticides are sprayed on cotton fields; that’s more than any other single crop. Organic cotton is not bleached and colored with plant dyes. So remember, if your cotton item isn’t labeled organic, it’s out of style!

Wool Obsession Can your wardrobe handle the frosty winter months? If not, come in to Wool

Obsession, which makes all-natural, earth-friendly wool. Wool jackets are all the rage for winter fashion. Synthetic fabrics that other jackets are made out of, like nylon, are environmentally destructive and out of vogue. Visit us before October 15 and receive a ten percent discount!

Fabulous Fur Love animals but also love wearing fur coats? Fabulous Fur solves your

ethical concerns with fake fur. It is the latest thing because its production doesn’t harm animals or involve the use of chemicals. Real fur is treated with harsh, toxic chemicals before being made into a coat. Here at Fabulous Fur, loving animals and looking good are always in fashion!

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

Allie: Hey, Chelsea. This is Allie.

Chelsea: Oh, hi! What’s going on?

Allie: Would you like to come to the surprise birthday bash I’m throwing for Rick next Saturday?

Chelsea: Sure! I love partying.

Allie: He’s been really stressed over his schoolwork, so I’m hoping the celebration will divert his attention. Can you publicize the party at school?

Chelsea: Definitely! What’s the theme?

Allie: It’s going to be Western style. You know how much Rick adores all those old cowboy movies.

Chelsea: Wow. So I’m guessing the guests should get all decked out?

Allie: Yes. No one needs to go to the trouble of putting on their Sunday best, but it would be preferable if everyone would wear Western gear and

accessories, like cowboy boots and hats.

Chelsea: So the guys should get slicked up, and the girls need to doll up in stylish costumes, right?

Allie: That would be terrific.

Chelsea: All right. Are you inviting my roommate Erin?

Allie: Of course.

Chelsea: She dresses casually and never heeds dress codes though.

Allie: I know. But try to persuade her to make herself presentable, just this once.

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READING─PRE-READING TASK

Scan the reading and match the people with the dangerous beauty practices they are known for.

People

1. Egyptians: _______

2. Greeks and Romans: _______

3. Queen Elizabeth: _______

4. Lady Gaga: _______

Beauty Practice

a. White lead powder on the face

b. Drops of nightshade in the eyes

c. Black lead liner around the eyes

d. Special contact lenses

c

a

b

d

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READING

When one hears about plastic surgery nightmares and

eating disorders, it’s easy to assume that obsession with beauty is only a modern-day phenomenon. The truth is that numerous beauty practices had been damaging health long before the present time.

Paragraph 1

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Thanks to Queen Elizabeth, in the 1500s it was routine to enlarge one’s pupils with the toxic nightshade* plant. It makes the eyes look brighter, but constant use can prove fatal. Furthermore, it wasn’t just cosmetics that had been presenting problems. It was during this century that corsets* became popular. The tight underwear was worn to shrink the size of the wearer’s waist, but it could lead to breathing difficulty and even defects of the spine.

READING

The ancient Egyptians were the first to embrace cosmetics as a way of life. When looking at paintings of them, the first thing one will notice is their dark eyeliner. They applied it because they believed it could ward off evil spirits. Unfortunately, the substance they used was made from lead, which not only resulted in eye infections but also mental diseases. Ancient Greeks and Romans took the use of lead even further by grinding it into a white powder and covering their faces with it. Since they used so much more, they suffered harsher consequences, such as insanity* and paralysis.

* insanity: the state of having a mental illness

* nightshade: a type of plant that has a poisonous juice

* corset: a clothing item that makes one’s waist appear smaller

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

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Today, famous people are still used as fashion barometers. Lady Gaga’s style is one that is frequently copied. In one of her music videos, the pop star wore special contact lenses that made her eyes look bigger. Impressed by the look, teenagers began purchasing similar contacts. However, while the items didn’t harm the singer, others have complained of side effects ranging from irritation to blindness. In terms of footwear, high-heeled shoes have long been known to contribute to knee and foot issues, but this hasn’t decreased their popularity. The current passion for skinny jeans is also harmful. When the jeans are too tight, they can cause nerve damage and numbness* in the legs.

READING

By observing the trends in recent years, it can be hard to imagine a time in the future when people will no longer be suffering in the name of beauty. Will people ever stop this dangerous search for the perfect look?

* numbness: lack of feeling in parts of the body

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READING

Discussion

Nowadays, permanent cosmetics are gaining popularity.

Tattoos are used to resemble makeup that people normally

apply every day, from eyeliner to lipstick. Although the

technique is time-saving, it does have numerous risks, such as

scars and infections. Do you think the effort is worthwhile?

Would you ever consider having the procedure done?

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

A. Complete the PassageFill in the blanks with words from the article.

Although people associate acne with today’s stress and poor eating

habits, it is known that people in ancient times suffered from this skin issue

as well. An excellent 1. b __________ r of the importance of eliminating

acne is how many things that have been used over the years to treat it. The

ancient Egyptians tried to use spells to 2. w__________d off the problem.

They considered the disease to be a 3. c_____________e of telling too

many lies. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was believed that it was due to a

4. d_____________t of the skin. They 5. e_____________d soaking in

sulfur as the best solution to the condition. Unlike many treatments of the

time, which had serious side effects, this one wasn’t 6. t_____________c.

In fact, sulfur remained a common way to 7. s_____________k outbreaks

of acne until the modern era.

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Identify the Main IdeaWrite the paragraph number next to the matching main idea

Paragragh Main Idea

Modern beauty practices are the source of several medical problems.

The world’s first cosmetics were made from substances that caused severe damage.

In this era, people made use of both fatal cosmetics and tight clothing.

It is unlikely that harmful approaches for obtaining perfection will ever die out.

Throughout history, people have taken risks in their quest to look more attractive.

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2

3

5

1

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p.29

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

C. True or FalseSelect if the statements are true or false.

1. T F The ancient Egyptians wore makeup to defend themselves against illnesses.

2. T F Queen Elizabeth was responsible for many trends; her citizens worked hard to copy her stylish ideas.

3. T F Corsets were a type of clothing that were worn to stretch a person’s abdomen.

4. T F Unusual contact lenses became more popular with teenagers due to their appearance on Lady Gaga.

5. T F In previous generations, high-heeled shoes were not as destructive to one’s health.

6. T F People who wear skinny jeans have reported some loss of feeling in the legs.