CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter May,May , 2020
20 20
In the English language, time references are Radiocarbon dating wasassigned to verbs so we can get clear introduced in the 1940’s andinformation
about
when
something widely adopted from thehappened, is happening or will happen, 1950’s. The 1950’s are also
pinning “time” down with very precise the time when certain countries
began widespread testing
indicators.
In the scientific community, some of nuclear weapons in thetheoretical physicists have been messing atmosphere. It soon became apparent thataround with our neat and orderly concepts of radiocarbon dating could not be relied upontime, suggesting that the “past”, “present” to accurately date anything thereafter.
and “future are somehow intermingled and Why?
Nuclear weapons massively alter thethat the nature of time is not linear at all!
environment
and the atmosphere, so much
Anthropologists,
so that the natural ratio of carbon-14 andgeologists,
carbon-12 is altered, even turning a lot ofarchaeologists andcarbon-14 into carbon-12!
otherscientists
Basically,thismeansthatany
however are farradiocarbon dating done after January 1st.
more down-to-earth
when it comes to “time”. They continue to see 1950 is invalid – that date is generally
time linearly, and they have a very clear agreed upon because it falls in the middle
notion of just when the “present” began; that of the beginning of wide-spread nuclear
was on January 1st 1950. Admittedly, that testing. Any time reference after that date
date is somewhat arbitrary, but formost is referred to as the “present” and any timeEllathat date is referredscientific disciplines that’s it! that’s when beforeto as “B.P.” or“now” began.
stbefore theSo, how or why was January 1 . 1950
Janispresent.
selected as indicative of “now?”
Radiocarbon dating is used extensively by
scientists to ascertain the age of a fossil orother long dead organisms. The atmosphere
contains relatively equal parts of stablecarbon-12 and unstable carbon-14. Plants
and other living things, absorb both kinds
during their lifetimes in the form of carbon
dioxide. Once an organism dies, the unstablecarbon-14 immediately begins to decay at aNET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
known and steady rate. Scientists can then…. Try our lessons on the net!
measure the amount of carbon-14 remaining
Lots on R-C-D here:
in the dead organism to determine how old it https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-isis – this is called radiocarbon dating.
radiocarbon-dating-and-how-does-it-work-9690

Joshua Says: “A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing.” This is a wellknown proverb alluding to the foolishness of some people who think they are
already experts on a particular subject before gaining a full understanding ofit. “A little learning...” starts Alexander Pope’s version in An essay onCriticism, 1709. Not simply a criticism, this proverb encourages us not to giveup learning before we’ve truly mastered our subject.
Junko Says: Specialists used to say that sugar can supply energy toyour brain. But now what they say is quite the contrary. They now say thatsugar increases active oxygen, causes aging and breaks down the neural networkin our brain. Here are some things you can do to revitalize your brain: Read(English...) books, chew well when you eat, do hand exercises to stimulate yourbrain and take up new challenges both mental and physical.
Marek Says: Just the other day I went for a picnic by the lake in the mountains. I
sat on a park bench surrounded by flowering vines and bushes heavy with blossoms.
I took my camera to take some photos, but after a minute of choosing the right photo
angle, I realised the plants were teaming with all manner of caterpillars devouring
the leaves while they, in turn, were being devoured by birds. And hornets werebuzzing all around too. I love nature nonetheless!
Darrin Says: Have you been keeping yourself busy during the lockdown? Due tomany of my classes being cancelled, I’ve started making andselling Australian style meat pies. In Australia, they are a popular light meal.
I would compare them to takoyaki but with a completely different taste ofcourse. It’s a thick beef stew encased in pastry and it’s delicious. Please let meknow if you would like to try one.
Mandcy dit: Mais qu'est-ce que c'est la culture française ? Être français n'estpas une nationalité. C'est un art de vivre. Nous sommes gourmand, aimons
boire du vin et parler beaucoup. Mais c'est aussi exprimer sa personnalité,par la mode et par l'art. On doit se distinguer. Et enfin et surtout, c'est
partager, s'amuser ensemble est toujours un bon moment de convivialité.
Mais l'important, c'est de rester soi-même, n'est-ce pas?
1ACROSS
2 of any value, form ordegree
6 appointed or allocated to
8 vague idea
10 very accurate
12 combined into one
14 discover, find out with certainty
15 widely circulated or distributed
16 take inDOWN
1 a living thing
3 acknowledged
4 resistant to change
5 to point out or reveal
7 having no truth or legitimacy
9 clear11 derived or inferred ideas
13 relating to lines

2

3

4
5
6

7

8

910

11

12

13
14

15

16

(print version here)
www.CrosswordWeaver.com

There are many expressions in English that refer to “time.” Here arejust some...... See if you can match the correct one to each sentence.
1) Do you think you could __________ to go camping during the holidays?
a. have the time of your life
b. have a good timec. kill timed. get time off2) I'm sorry, I can't talk to you right now. I'm __________.
a. putting in timeb. behind the timesc. on timed. pressed for time3) You arrived just __________. You almost missed the train.
a. in the nick of timeb. on timec. for the time being
d. in your spare time4) The company’s closed because of the Coronavirus. When we get back to work, we’ll have to __________.
a. make timeb. lose timec. make up for lost time
d. kill time5) Stop __________ and get back to work!
a. run out of timeb. losing track of timec. worth your time
d. wasting time6) I must really be __________. I don't even know how to use a smart phone.
a. out of timeb. ahead of timec. behind the times
d. losing time
(Check your answers in next month’s NL here on P3)
VN U M E R O U SADOV I G O R O U SBUYRRTAS I G N I F I C A N T
R E C E P T I V E
SNEIDKEREOEOAAXNNBDLCTI N T E N S I V E
B E N E F I C I A LCQRSRUTSYATD E D I C A T E

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
2 many in number
5 strong and active
7 important in effect or meaning
9 open to ideas or change
13 to a high degree
14 enhancing well-being
15 give special meaning toDOWN
1 be different from
3 unvarying way or behavior
4 a period of time
6 quick, fast
7 requiring little activity
8 exercise that increases theneed for oxygen
10 too much
11 sufficient for the purpose
12 mentally responsive

Don’t forget… Our SPECIAL 1+1 Campaign offer! Up to 50% off!!
See our notice board, or ask Junko in our office, for the details.