CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter November,November , 2020
20 20

Along withthe kangaroo and the koala, justabout everyone knows this guy. The platypus
is one of Australia’s best known icons, butthere is so much more to this strange little
critter than first meets the eye.
Okay, we all agree that they look pretty
weird, like a cross between a duck (a beak at
the front end), and a beaver (the tail at therear). But looking weird is only part of thestory. Like ducks, and other birds and reptiles,
they are one of only two animal species in theworld that actually lay eggs (the other, also
found in Australia, is the echidna). Afterlaying her eggs, mother platypus incubates
them for about 10 days keeping them warmwith her own body-heat (again like birds).
However, after they hatch, she feeds herbabies milk just like other mammals. But evenin this, she has her own way of doing things.
EllaFemale platypuses do not have nipples
somom “sweats” milk through the pores in her
skin on her belly and her babies lap this up
likeJanisa dog or cat laps up water.
To add to the weirdness, platypuses arecarnivorous, but they do not have any teeth.
Their “beak” is made of a soft rubberymaterial which they use to sift through loose
silt and pebbles on the bottom of streams,
rivers and lakes when hunting for food.
When they dive in search for prey, they close
their eyes, ears and nostrils. So, how do theyfind their dinner? It’s all in the beak. They
have “electro-receptors” in their beaks whichpick up tiny electrical fields produced by themuscular contractions of the crustaceans,
worms and mollusks they prey on as thesecritters burrow into the silt to escape.

Platypuses are nocturnal and solitary
creatures by nature and usually only get
together when it’s mating time. The maledoes not lend a helping hand to raising hisbabies. That’s all left to mom. Yet, to find amate he’s prepared to fight for love. This iswhere another of this animal’s unique traits
comes in. The males have a very venomousand sharp spike on their hind ankles andthey use these to duel with. It’s probable that
this is also a defensive mechanism against
other animals that may try to attack them.
Scientists have recently found that thevenom – capable of killing a dog if used indefense – has a substance that could be used
to treat or even cure diabetes in humans!
And there is still more! Also discovered
recently, if their fur is exposed to ultraviolet
light (UV), it glows! It
has been theorized
that, as they are nocturnal
animals, this may be a way for them to adapt
to low-light conditions and to identify eachother at night.
And finally, there is the matter of “platypusdreams.” All mammals enter a state of REM(“Rapid Eye Movement”) when asleep. Nerve
cells in the brain fire-up, face, eyes and limbs
twitch,and we dream (at least humansdo). Our platypus friends?
They experience 8 hours ofREM when they’re asleep!

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
Get some more info on platypuses here (with a video too):

https://www.thecut.com/2020/05/do-platypusessweat-milk.html

Joshua Says: “Wisdom grows from 10% of what you see and read, and 90%
from what you do with the knowledge you gain.” This is a quote that could beapplied to studying English... The point being that you can gain much morefrom your lessons if you find ways to use the English you have learnt in class.
If conversation in English is limited, you could still write in English more
often (and have it corrected by your teacher in a later class, of course).
Junko Says: Recently I read an article titled, “A wandering mind is anunhappy mind.” There was a study involving several thousand Americans
that looked at the effects distractions have on the brain. The result showedthat 47% of the time, the subjects could not focus on what they were doing,
and when they were not paying attention, they were not happy. Psychologists
say that our brain’s wiring is adaptable and not fixed. And the neuroplasticity
of our brains opens up the chance to train and improve our minds.
Marek Says: A dramatic US election has finally come to a conclusion, notwithout controversy and allegations of fraud and not abiding the electoral laws.
Let’s hope that the new president elect will restore the reputation of the country
and address many pressing issues plaguing the American nation over the recentyears. Even though all eyes are on Joe Biden, President Trump is still in power
until January 20th, and I am sure we haven’t heard the last of him.
Mandcy dit: Cette année, les élections américaines étaient une vraie
aventure. Encore mieux qu'une série télé . Et j'ai bien peur que ce ne soit pas
fini. J'ai hâte de voir la suite. L'Amérique va-t-elle enfin avoir un président? Cette année, je suis triste, car il n'y a pas de onsen de beaujolais nouveau àcause du coronavirus! Toutefois, je vous souhaite une bonne degustation àtous. Je vais au moins en acheter 2 ou 3 bouteilles.
1ACROSS2

3

6 people or things that are very
well-known
7 another name for creature
9 to fight10 using the tongue to drink
11 make suitable for
12 very poisonous
14 small round stones
17 active at night
18 back or behind
19 to sort and separate carefully

4

5678

910
11
12

13
14DOWN16

1 characteristic features
2 odd or unusual3 nerve endings that respond to17
stimulation
4 emerge from an egg
5 supporting growth and development
8 feeding on animal life
13 mud, clay, small stones in a river or lake
14 small openings in the skin
www.CrosswordWeaver.com
15 to dig
16 located at or near the back18

19

(print version here)15

About Horse Racing with S(a)3’s Koki:
Are you enjoying horse racing? Of course! I also enjoy it every weekend even though I often lose amoderate amount of money by doing so. These days horse racing is being held but no spectators have been
allowed to enter racetracks since February 29th due to Covid-19. As a result, I have not been able to go andwatch the beautiful horses directly this year. SO frustrating!! Instead, I bet through the internet and watch the races on TV.
But here, I’d like to suggest how to learn foreign languages from horse racing. As you know, all horses have individualnames. According to Japanese horse racing regulations, horse names should not have more than 18 letters from the alphabet
or more than 9 katakana characters. With some exceptions, a horse owner should not use the same name for his horse as
already in use by another horse. If you happen to be a horse owner, you will struggle to decide your horse’s name because of
these limitations. Generally, the meaning of a horse’s name reflects, for example, a human, a flower, a machine, a scene or aconcept. In addition, various languages, Japanese, English, Spanish, Italian, and so on, are made use of.
I sometimes ponder the meaning of strong or interesting horse names, and I have learned foreign words throughthese names. Below are some examples with some information about the horses so named:DEEP IMPACT: Self-explanatory meaning. He won the Japan Triple Crown of classic races (Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby,Kikuka Sho) in 2005 as well as some G1 races. He was considered the strongest Japanese horse by most Japanese “receaholics.”
OLFEVRE: Meaning “Goldsmith” in French. He won the Japan Triple Crown in 2011. He tried the Prix de L’Arc
de Triomphe (a traditional official French G1 race) in 2012 and 2013. He came in 2nd twice. In 2013 I visited France
on my honeymoon to cheer him on.
BUENA VISTA: Meaning “a splendid Scene” in Spanish. She won a lot of Japanese G1 races. When I started to bet in 2008, I
was impressed by her ability to repeatedly beat stallions. A café named after Buena Vista is in Baishinji-town in Matsuyama.
TRANSCEND: Meaning to go beyond the usual limits. He had success on dirt tracks between 2009 and 2012
CONTRAIL: Meaning a streak of white in the sky made by a plane. He now has the right to challenge the Japan Triple Crown.
DARING TACT: Meaning tactics involving a lot of risk. She also now has the right to challenge the Japan Triple Crown.
In addition, we can get a glimpse of the owner’s sense of humor from their horses’ names. From the point of view of themessage, my favorite names are “To the Glory,” “Stay Foolish” and “One and Only.” On the other hand, from the point ofview of fun, my favorite name is “Sleepless Night.” He had success as a sprinter between 2007 and 2009. He was named from apassage in a satirical tanka from the Edo period. “Sleepless Night’s”
sire was Kurofune which literallymeans “the black ship.” The name comes from US navy commander MatthewPerry’s 4 famous black-steamships that came to the Uraga Coast (inKanagawa prefecture) in 1853 and demanded the opening of Japan to theworld. From that sensational event, a Japanese poet wrote a poem, and inthat poem, the expression “sleepless night” was used. The owner has
understood the event deeply and named one of Kurofune’s foals “SleeplessNight.” It’s an interesting relationship to me.
I think that these points of view encourage us to start watching horse
racing. So, why don’t you watch horse racing too? (But you have to beover 20 if you want to bet!)
E N Z Y M E SFSPLE X H A U S T E DD E R I V E DOEEOARNICVRA S P E C T STNOEIOICMNEI N F L A M M A T I O NPTOLROIPF A U N A
CS P O R E S
EAIUOISCZIC U R E SNKISAG L U C O S E
B E N E F I T STDGNIENH U G E L Y

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
1 proteins produced by cells
4 drained of energy
5 coming or developed from
8 characteristics to be considered
10 swelling in the body
12 animal life
14 small single-cell
reproductive bodies
15 makes healthy again
16 a type of sugar
17 adding to well-being
18 greatly

DOWN
1 absolutely necessary
2 plant life
3 established beyond doubt
5 breaking down, decaying
6 differences within the group
7 including
9 moving to a new area to live
11 filled to capacity
13 the preparation of foodDon’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.