CROSSROADS Language
L anguage StudioÊs Newsletter M ay,
ay , 2024
202 4

Currently airing on-line is a SF TV series
called “Foundation,” It is loosely based on aseries of novels and short stories by theAmerican author, Isaac Asimov. In the TV
series, a trio of human clones, “Dawn”, “Day”
and “Dusk”, who are “descendents” of Cleon
1st, have ruled the 12.000 year old Galactic
Empire continuously for the past 400 years.
They are genetically identical to each otherand when one dies, another is “resurrected”
from a clone “bank” containing Cleon’s DNA.
The clones serve as the personification of theEmpire’s permanency and consistency.
Cleon’s descendent clones live in a fictional
fantasy-world supposedly 1,000’s of years
into the future. Today’s scientists have also
been able to create clones (remember Dolly
the sheep from 1997?) thanks to theadvancement of modern technology.
But apart from the intervention of science
Ellaand human technology (imaginaryorotherwise), clones do actually occur
naturally in nature.
Take,
for example, the 43,600 year old,
JanisKing’s Holly. Like most plants, King’s Holly
flowers, but its flowers do not produce
seeds or fruit of any kind. So, how does it
propagate?

The King’s Holly plant has survived for atleast 43,600 years (some estimates put its
age at 135,000 years!) by cloning itself. It
does this by dropping branches onto thenearby soil which then take root and growinto new plants.
Today, all of the existing 300-odd criticallyendangered plants of this species growwithin one, single narrow stretch of land justover a kilometre in length, in Tasmania,Australia. And as all the plants in the colony
have been reproduced vegetatively, they aregenetically identical to each other – i.e.,
clones.
The individual shrubs, or small trees, inthe colony grow incredibly slow at a rate ofabout 0.26 mm per year. Dendrochronology(using growth rings to determine a tree’sage) dated one stem to be 240 years old!
They can reach a height about 8 meters.
King’s Holly, or Lomatia tasmanica, to giveit its scientific name, was first discovered in1934 by Charles Denison King, a miner andavid naturalist, while prospecting for tin insouth-western Tasmania. In 1965, he found asecond colony about 5 km from his first
discovery (which unfortunately had died out bythen) and sent a clipping to the University ofTasmania. Both the plant and its discoverer
are now celebrated in botanical circles.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
More on King’s Holly here:
https://anpsa.org.au/APOL2008/nov08-s1.html

Joshua Says: There is a single word, research has suggested, that has thesame meaning, and similar sound, in at least 31 languages – the study may be
expanded to include more language is the future - in effect, a truly “universalword”, understood almost wherever you go. It’s a word that could be useful inyour lesson, too. If you don’t understand what your teacher or classmates aresaying, just utter this word… “huh” .. and you’ll immediately be understood!
Junko Says: There are two essential fats you can obtain through your diet;
Omega 3 and Omega 6. ω3 fats benefit your heart, brain and metabolism. Perillaseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans and spinach are high in ω3. ω6 fats benefit
your heart, lowers cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of cancer. Safflower
seeds, corn oil, soybean oil and walnuts are high in ω6. But don’t forget ω9. It
increases energy, boosts your immune system and more. Olive oil is high in ω9.
Marek Says: I always pride myself in being able to do many things bymyself around vehicles. DIY is relaxing, and a successful job really gives me asense of accomplishment and fulfillment. The other day, I was quoted nearly
20.000yen for a tire change, which is simply scandalous, given that the tires
themselves cost a tad more than just putting them on. A hefty bill like this isa great incentive to learn new skills!
Mandcy dit: Plus qu'un mois avant les jeux olympiques de Paris, les jeux seront tenus du 26 juillet au16 août à travers toute la France et aussi Tahiti, une petite île française dans le Pacifique. La compétition deFootball et de bateaux seront tenus à Marseille par exemple. Le Vendredi 26 juillet 2024 de 19h30 à 23h,(12h30 au Japon) se tiendra la cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024. Cet événement
se déroulera sur la Seine entre le Pont d'Austerlitz et le Pont d'Iéna. Au programme, une tour Eiffel qui
brille, des défilés, des bateaux sur la Seine et bien sûre des chansons. J'ai hâte d'y être !
ACROSS
2 brought back to life
5 widely known
9 giving human qualities
to an idea
10 to get involved and cause
an effect
11 exactly alike
14 an ancestor's offspring
15 an unofficial associationof people
16 reproduce offspring
18 a small piece of a plant
19 searching for something
20 very surprisingly

1245

6

78910
1112
13

14
15

DOWN
1 decide conclusively
3 like bushes
4 everlasting
6 seriously
7 reproduced asexually
8 very keen, enthusiastic
12 stability, uniformity
13 a set of three similar things
17 exposure to public viewing

316

1718

1920

(print version here)Match the plant, tree and garden idioms below with their correct definitions on theright, then place them in the passage below: (This is a hard one, even native speakers will find it tough!)
1. heard through the grapevine• too focused on details, can’t see the big picture

2. can't see the wood for the trees• a place or situation that is very easy, trouble free

3. reap(ing) what you sow• to hear something from other people, not directly

4. lead (someone) down the garden path• to change bad/wrong behavior and lead a better life

5. beating around the bush• make someone believe something that isn’t true

6. in a nutshell• don’t avoid the point

7. seed money• money is not easy to come by

8. old chestnut• the whole point in a summary

9. turn over a new leaf

• an old story or idea often repeated

10. nip it/this in the bud• gone/go crazy

11. bed of roses•thoroughly or completely

12. lose/lost your gourd•only something bad will happen if you go ahead

13. rake in•prevent something happening before it begins

14. root and branch•to gain a lot (usually money)

15. money doesn’t grow on trees•money used to start a new business or venture

Husband: Don’t _____ wasting time with an _____ and get to the point! Tell me _____ what’s troublingyou.
Wife: Well, okay. Yesterday, __1__ that you want to setup a partnership with Donald Stump and use oursavings as _____ to get started. Have you _____? You promised to _____ the last time you tried
something like this.
Husband: But this time we’re sure to _____ a fortune. You just can’t _____!
Wife: What I do see is that _____ even if you think it does. I’m sorry, but I’m going to _____ before I let
you _____ again. You have to learn that life is not a _____. You’ll end up _____ if you
go ahead with this.
Husband: What do you mean by that?
Wife: _____ …, divorce!!
A N T I O X I D A N T S
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R A D I C A L S
BLD O S E S

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
1 prevent reactions to oxygen
5 combining more than one
10 functioning well
11 helps prevent food decaying
12 taking food into the body
14 leaders of nations
15 a type of tree or shrub
17 reduced to small particles
18 two or more atoms joined together
19 measured portions (medicine)

DOWN
2 stay clear of
3 surprisingly, unlikely
4 poisonous
5 unchanging
6 god-like supernatural beings
7 destroying bacterial growth
8 different types of
9 usages
13 the second of two
16 unchanging

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