TEXTOS SUGERIDOS PARA LEITURA - 1ºANO - 23/06/10
Autor: Gilberto | Publicado: 2010-06-23T17:35:00-07:00

World Cup organisers say they will not ban vuvuzelas from stadiums in South Africa, despite numerous complaints. The sound of the plastic horn has been likened to the drone of a thousand bees or a herd of stampeding elephants. Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo says the noise affects player concentration, while some fans watching on television claim they cannot hear the commentary. But a World Cup spokesman insisted vuvuzelas are "ingrained in the history of South Africa" and will remain. Rich Mkhondo also said vuvuzelas had worldwide appeal. "Let us not make this a South Africa instrument alone," he said. "A vuvuzela is now an international instrument. People buy them and stuff them in their suitcase to go home. "Only a minority are against vuvuzelas. You either love them or hate. We in South Africa love them." _________________________________________________Measure  of Calm May Help Fight AIDSStress, long thought  to play a role in many diseases, appears to be an ally of the AIDS virus in its attack on the immune system,  researchers  said  this week.  Writing  in The Proceedings of  the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles said it appeared  that the virus multiplied more quickly in people who handled stress poorly.The findings were based on a study of 13 H.I.V. – positive men whose  stress  levels were  assessed before  they were given  drug  therapy.  Researchers  gauged  stress  by measuring  blood  pressure,  heart  rate  and  skin moisture and  then watched how  they changed when  the men were put through stress-inducing mental exercises.In those who remained calmest, the  levels of virus in  the blood declined much more after beginning medication than they did in men who were the  least calm.The  calmer men  also had much higher  levels of T-cells, which fight the AIDS virus. The lead author, Dr. Steve Cole, said it was possible that the hormone norepinephrine,  released when  a person  is under stress, helped open  the door  for H.I.V., allowing  it  to bind more easily  to cells and encouraging  it  to replicate more freely._________________________________________________Vuvuzela: a symbol of South AfricaFrom the beat of the samba drums in Brazil to the ringing of cow bells in Switzerland to the Mexican wave, the idiosyncrasies of several nationalities become apparent at football matches. South Africans are no exception, as those who have descended on the country for this year's FIFA Confederations Cup have discovered. The vuvuzela is a vociferous air horn that reverberates around arenas with rare energy. It is also a proud and permanent symbol of its patrons. "Without the vuvuzela, I don't think I would be able to enjoy football," said Sadaam Maake, one of South African football's celebrity followers. "It brings a special feeling to the stadiums. It is something that makes the fans want to get behind their team." The vuvuzela was originally made from a kudu horn. Folklore has it that, in the ancient days, it was used to summon people to gatherings. Over the last 15 years, the sight and sound of the instrument being blown at games has evolved into an emblem of hope and unity for many South Africans. "When we started the vuvuzela, there was so much sadness in our country in those years and it brought so much joy," explained Mzion Mofokeng, another iconic football enthusiast. "All of a sudden people would go to the stadiums because of this instrument that was able to get fans on their feet and start cheering. For few hours, they would forget about the reality in our society and enjoy the sound. However, Mofokeng did add a warning: "In order for it to produce a nice sound, someone must know how to blow it. It must be done with a controlled voice and you need some art for that." __________________________________________________GOOD READING FOR ALL!!!gbt