A breath-taking creation, Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, is unmistakably the most expansive saltflat on earth. The over 10,000 square kilometer plain, far from city life, is teeming with hotels made of salt blocks, satellite calibration stations and even a traincemetery.

Lying on the coast of Yemen, is Socotra Island, a haven of strange yet lovely plants and animals. A third of the rare life forms found here are exclusive to the island. In addition to the surprising landscape are enthralling views of the amazingly blue surrounding waters.

The region of Cappadocia in Turkey has a record of inhabitance dating to the 6th century BC. The high plateau characterized by intermittent crags creates an ideal locale for cave dwellings. The many towns situated in this region have taken advantage of the sublime natural building materials found in this semi-arid highland.

Spanning extravagantly over an approximate 350 square kilometers of land, China’s Stone Forest, from afar, looks like a woodland covered with tall thin trees. They are in fact prehistoric rock formations which in addition to their classic stone pillar formations can also uncannily resemble a variety of animals and plants. 

Western Egypt is home to the White Desert, so named for its irregular stark white land patterns. Though these drifts may look like snow this arid landscape is home to opulent natural chalk formations which stretch far into the horizon line.

With some 900 years of history behind it, it would almost be a surprise if Edinburgh Castle wasn’t one of Scotland’s scariest sites. Over one million visitors come to see the castle every year. Built high upon a non-active volcano overlooking the city, Edinburgh Castle has a very haunted history. The Castle has a hidden underworld of secret tunnels built beneath it. When these tunnels were first discovered several hundred years ago, a piper was sent to explore. He kept playing so that his progress could be tracked by those above. About halfway down the Royal Mile the piping suddenly stopped. When a rescue party was sent, there was no trace of the piper. He had simply vanished. The lone piper’s ghost still haunts Edinburgh today, walking endlessly along the underground tunnel beneath the Royal Mile, the old city’s bustling main thoroughfare. His music can sometimes be heard from within the castle. Edinburgh also has its dungeons where prisoners were incarcerated, tortured and often perished. Like many castles, these dungeons are haunted by the ghosts of their victims. If the castle’s paranormal activity isn’t enough, Edinburgh also boasts the Mary Kings Close, an underground area of the city in which victims of the Black Plague were quarantined and left to die.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE:

Many people have heard the sound of ghostly drums within Edinburgh castle, however few have seen the drummer. The reason for this is that the drummer ghost only appears when the castle is about to be attacked. Visitors in haunted areas report paranormal experiences, like shadowy figures, sudden drops in temperature and the feeling of something tugging on their clothes.

TOURIST INFORMATION:

There are several companies that run ghoulish ghost tours which depart from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Their expert guides will take great pleasure in describing the rather brutal and often public punishments handed down to the citizens of Edinburgh, tell you stories of body snatchers, walk you round some of Edinburgh’s haunted closes and wynds and descend you into murky candle-lit vaults deep below Edinburgh’s city streets!

Address: Castle Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG, Scotland
Admission fee: children £ 7 , adults £ 13
web: www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Leicestershire Police are fed-up with silly questions and daft reports clogging up emergency lines meant for genuine callers. Police have to deal with time-wasters but the joke was on a raft of callers shamed in a compilation of time-wasting calls on April Fool’s Day.

One dim-wit called 999 to tell officers there was a rat "the size of a rabbit" in her friend’s kitchen. And another thought the best way to find out if they could pull over on the M1 hard shoulder to go to the LOO was to call the cops.

The worst phone call is a man requesting help exchanging trainers he has just purchased. A seething 999 operator is so angry she  brands the call "an entirely inappropriate use" of the emergency number.

For non-emergencies people should call 101 or visit the force’s website which contains a section called Ask the Police.

source: Mirror

to shame – megszégyenít, szégyenbe hoz
fool – ostoba ember, bolond
time-wasting – időpazarló, időfecsérlő
999 – rendőrség hívószáma, (mint a 107)
to be fed-up with sg – torkig lenni valamivel; elege van valamiből
daft – bolond, együgyű, ostoba
reports – bejelentés
to clog up – akadályozni, lezárni, lefoglalni, eldugítani
genuine –  valódi, eredeti, hiteles
raft of – sok (a lot of)
compilation – összeállítás
dim-wit – buta, süket, ostoba
hard shoulder – útpadka
hilarious – túláradóan vidám, mókás, nevetséges,
seething – mérgelődő, nagyon haragos
to brand – megbélyegezni, ált. valami szégyenteljest
inappropriate – alkalmatlan, alkalmatlankodó

Read the information then match the suitable answers a to e to the questions of the operator. 

There is an accident at Oktogon. A man on a motorcycle was hit by someone in a blue Volvo. Traffic is backed up (feltorlódott) on the street. It appears that the man on the motorcycle has been hurt (megsérült).

a, A man on a motorcycle was hit by a car.
b, It is 06-70-315-675.
c, One, a blue Volvo. But traffic is all backed up.
d, At Oktogon, Budapest.
e, Only the man on the motorcycle.

Operator: 999 Where is your emergency?
Caller: 1. …..
Operator: What is your phone number?
Caller: 2.  …..
Operator: What happened?
Caller: 3.  …….
Operator: How many cars are involved?
Caller: 4. …..
Operator: How many people are hurt?
Caller: 5.
Operator: We are sending help now.

answers: 1.d, 2.b, 3.a, 4.c, 5.e

]]> https://www.5percangol.hu/2014-majusi-szamhoz-tartozo-hanganyagok-es-feladatok/celeb-bits-samuel-l-jackeson-confused-with-laurence-fishburne/ Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:01:50 +0000 https://cmsteszt.5percangol.hu/celeb-bits-samuel-l-jackeson-confused-with-laurence-fishburne/ https://www.5percangol.hu/2013_ingyenes_online_angol/elnezest-kert-a-vizsgaztatotol-a-matek-dolgozata-miatt-20-ev-mulva-kapo/ Wed, 12 Feb 2014 13:13:42 +0000 https://cmsteszt.5percangol.hu/elnezest-kert-a-vizsgaztatotol-a-matek-dolgozata-miatt-20-ev-mulva-kapo/

This woman wrote a note to her maths exam marker. What happened 20 years later will amaze you

source: Mirror

note – megjegyzés, üzenet
exam marker – az írásbeli vizsga értékelője
exam – vizsga
to amaze – csodálatba ejt
to apologise – elnézést kér
to waste – elpocsékol
to be impressed by sg.  – nagy hatással van rá vmi
to track down – felkutatni
decade – évtized
wholeheartedly – teljes szívből
to mark – osztályozni, értékelni
to enter – itt: elindul, részt vesz
against sy’s will – akarata ellenére
mathematically-minded – matekos agyú
annoyed – ideges
silly – buta
maths paper – matekdolgozat
corner – sarok
troublesome – kellemetlen, neveletlen
examiner – vizsgáztató
to return – visszajuttat
to invite – meghív
politically incorrect – nem politikailag korrekt
to manage – beteljesít, sikerül
business development manager – értékesítési és marketing menedzser
invigilator – felügyelő
to deluge – eláraszt
hang on to sg. – ragaszkodik valamihez
to touch – megérint
to get in touch – kapcsolatba lép
 

Choose the correct words for the sentences.

1. Marnie was a …………….. girl, she always got into fights even as a little girl.
a) kind
b) troublesome

2. They pushed me to do this against my ……..
a) will
b) want

3. The …………. was very strict, hardly anybody got a good mark.
a) examiner
b) exterminator

4. Peter and Paula got really ………….. and frustrated at the restaurant because the chef kept talking to them all evening. 
a) calm
b) annoyed

5. Can you write your name in the …………. of your paper?
a) corner
b) corncob

answers: 1-b 2-a 3-a 4-b 5-a

A company has invented the first LED safety lighting system for horses. Tail Lights are warning lights that drape through a horse’s tail to provide a safe and fashionable way to warn motorists of a horse and its rider. The company say that, based on initial tests, Tail Lights can be seen over a half mile away and allow the horse to be visible at almost any angle.

They are the brainchild of California-based Sami Gros, who developed the idea after her friend was almost killed when a car struck her horse. Sami explains: "Tail Lights was developed after I experienced a life-threatening accident while riding with a friend. Despite using reflective gear, the horse ridden by my friend was hit from behind by a car as we were approaching the barn around dusk. After failing to find a better product for equestrian safety, I designed and built Tail Lights, the first LED light source for horses. My goal is for all horses and their riders to be safe – all times and in any kind of weather."

Tail Lights consists of six water resistant LED lighting strips of variable lengths in the shape of a horse’s tail. The LED strands are attached to the base of the tail by a specially designed neoprene tail wrap. The lights do not emit heat and are water resistant and ergonomic, allowing for free movement of the tail, as well as make an attractive visual presence on the road. Tail Lights can be sized to fit all horses and the battery can be stowed in any cantle bag for easy access. The optional Tail Lights cantle bag will be large enough to store clothes, food or anything needed on the trail.

As well as safety applications, the company say Tail Lights could be used by rodeo riders or mounted police, with police only patterns utilising a blue and red colour scheme. Sami has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the $100,000 needed to make her innovation widely available.

to invent – feltaláni
safety lighting – biztonsági világítás
to warn – figyelmeztetni
initial – kezdeti
visible – látható
angle – szög
brainchild – ötlet
life-threatening – életveszélyes
despite – valami ellenére
reflective gear  – fényvisszaverő felszerelés
dusk – alkonyat
to fail to do something – nem sikerül valami
to consist of – valamiből áll
water resistant – vízálló
variable – változtatható
to emit heat – hőt kibocsátani
battery – akkumulátor
cantle bag – nyeregtáska
mounted police – lovasrendőrség
pattern – minta, színkombináció
innovation – újítás
available – elérhető, kapható

source:Rex

Are these statements true or false?

1. Sami invented the tail lights because she had been hit by a car while riding her horse.

2. Tail lights are waterproof and battery-operated LED lights.

3. Tail lights are more effective than wearing reflective gear.

4. A tail light will make the horse visible at any angle.

5. Sami hopes to finance the production of the tail lights through a fund raising campaign.

answers: 1-F 2-T 3-T 4-F 5-T 

Everyone has something that they can’t bear to get rid of — and for Pam Hopkins it has been her treasured cardigan, which she has kept for 54 years. The yellow, green and brown cosy jumper has definitely stood the test of time, as it has remained in pristine condition. Mrs Hopkins, from Llwyn Crwn Road, Llansamlet, said it was bought for her by her mother-in-law as Christmas present 54 years ago.

“It has never lost a button and is still intact since it was given to me,” she said. “I was thrilled when she gave it to me. It is lovely. It is cosy and warm. I think it has worn quite well over the years. I still wear it after all these years. I don’t know where it is from but it could have been from David Evans department or from Lewis Lewis which was on High Street. Years ago you would just get all the posh shops.”

The 75-year-old, who has four children and eight grandchildren, said her family often tease her about her aging cardigan.

“They laugh at it,” she said. “They just think it is old-fashioned.”

And to prove she still wears the cardigan — Mrs Hopkins has unearthed some pictures of her wearing it.

“The picture was taken a few years ago,” she said. “After I lost my husband, I was just clearing things about and I came across the picture. I thought that I needed to keep it.”

source:South Wales Evening Post 

affair – ügy, viszony
sign – jel
unravelling – kibomlás, felfeslés
to unravell – kibogozni, kideríteni vmit
to bear – elviselni
to get rid of – megszabadulni vmitől
cosy – kényelmes
jumper – pulóver
in pristine condition – kifogástalan állapotban
mother-in-law – anyós
button – gomb
intact – érintetlen
thrilled – lelkes, izgatott
posh – sikkes, elegáns
to tease – cukkol, piszkál
old-fashioned – régimódi, divatjamúlt
to unearth – előás, felfedez
to clear about – pakolgat, takarítgat

Match the words with their opposites.
 

 answer: 1-d 2-c 3-e 4-a 5-b

Mysterious breakages and shadowy figures at the Carlisle Castle Hotel, Australia, have been captured on CCTV – and staff say weird stuff happens there all the time

Creepy video footage appears to show ghostly figures and bottles of expensive wine flying off shelves in a ‘haunted‘ Australian hotel.

Match the words with the definitions.

answers: 1-c 2-e 3-a 4-b 5-d

Riley Pearson’s parents must face his headteacher before the four-day ban for not having a “healthy and balanced” packed lunch ends on Monday.

Mum Nicola Mardle, 24, said: “I would understand the exclusion if he was throwing tables around or bullying other children, but it is just ridiculous for a packet of Mini Cheddars.”

She said Riley usually takes a sandwich, Choobs fromage frais, Dairylea Dunkers and the offending cheese flavoured crackers.

Head Jeremy Meek said if the food policy at the school in Colnbrook, near Slough, Berks, is not adhered to it “potentially harms” the child. 

source: Mirror

to be suspended – felfüggesztve lenni
cheesy – sajtos
cracker – sós keksz
potentially – potenciálisan, lehetségesen
harm – ártani, károsítani
to suspend – felfüggeszt
to face – szembenézni valamivel
balanced – kiegyensúlyozott
exclusion – kizárás
bullying – erőszakoskodás, terrorizálás
ridiculous – nevetséges
offending – vétkes
flavoured – … ízű
policy – vezérelv, házirend

… and here is what the boy had in his lunchbox:

Titanic theme park in China offers a simulator which allows visitors to feel like they are on a sinking ship. A Titanic theme park with a “shake and tumble” simulator recreating the liner sinking was condemned as deplorable by victims’ relatives yesterday.

Douglas Piper, 80, whose grandad John Barnes was a fireman on board the famous ship , said: “This is exploitation. No one should make money or jokes out of a disaster.”

Rudi Newman, of the British Titanic Society, said: “This is in incredibly poor taste and frankly deplorable. Whatever next, the Pompeii experience?”

The park in Sichuan, China, is due to open in 2016 and light and sound effects will make visitors fear they are drowning. Su Shaojun, head of the group behind the project, said the aim was to “spread the spirit of the Titanic”.

More than 1,500 people died when the liner hit an iceberg in 1912.

source: Mirror

to criticise – kritizál
theme park  – vidámpark
to shake – rázni, rázkódni, remegni
to tumble – esni, bukni
to recreate – újraalkotni
disaster – katasztrófa
to allow – megengedni, lehetővé tenni
sinking – süllyedő
liner – luxushajó
to be condemned – elítélve lenni
deplorable – sajnálatos
on board – a fedélzeten
exploitation – kizsákmányolás, kihasználás
incredibly – hihetetlenül
poor taste – rossz izlés
frankly – őszintén
experience – élmény
light and sound effect – hang és fény hatás
to drown – megfulladni
aim – célja valaminek
to spread – terjedni, terjeszteni
to hit an iceberg – nekimenni egy jéghegynek

Library staff have waived an £11,500 fine for a book that should have been returned an astonishing 79 years ago. The novel Master of Men was taken out from Leicester County Library in 1934 and never returned.

Keith Dolphin, 64, found the book during a house clearance and was amazed to see the library ticket still inside. The date it had to be returned by – May 28, 1934 – was printed on the ticket but no return stamp next to it. Leicestershire County Council said if they charged the maximum amount per day, the fine would be £11,534. However their current maximum late return fine is £7 – so they have decided to waive the mammoth charge. It is not known who originally took the book out from the library, which has since shut down.

Retired handyman Keith was born 15 years after the book, penned by local author Edward Phillips Oppenheim, was borrowed. He said: “I found the book in an old house that I was clearing out. I was helping a friend who said to me to help myself to anything I wanted. There were a few books and bits, so I took it. The chap who lived in the house is dead now. The book is so old but you can still read it. It has the library ticket in it and the dates it was loaned out. It was due back on May 28, 1934, so I can’t imagine what the fine is!”

A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said they would not be chasing Keith, from Erdington, West Mids, for payment. He said: “If we charged the maximum amount per day that we could have done, the fine would have been GBP11,534. In reality, it’s a maximum late return fine of £7. We think this may well be the oldest book in our collection and we would be more than happy to have the book back. The novel tells the story of a vicar and his two daughters who move to a quiet country village. They later learn their neighbour holds secrets that will “change everything they thought to be real in their lives”.

Oppenheim was born in Leicester in 1866 and was a successful writer of romantic thrillers. His most renowned work was The Great Impersonation, which was later adapted for the silver screen.

Last year Professor John Foster, from Belfast, was spared a £8,577 fine after discovering a book that was 47 years overdue. A library in Australia had an edition of Charles Darwin’s Insectivorous Plants returned 122 years late in 2011 – but also waived the £23,900 fine.

to waive – elengedni (büntetést)
astonishing – megdöbbentő
house clearance – lomtalanítás
fine – pénzbírság, késedelmi díj
handyman – ezermester
to pen – írni (régies)
author – szerző
to help oneself to – elvinni vmit (fizetés nélkül)
chap – fickó
spokesman – szóvivő
to chase – üldözni
vicar – lelkész
renowned – ismert
to adapt – adaptációt készíteni
silver screen – tévé
overdue – lejárt (pl. számla, könyvtári könyv)

Find the synonyms!

1) astonishing
2) author
3) chap
4) renowned
5) silver screen

a) famous
b) television
c) writer
d) surprising
e) fellow

Answers: 1.d, 2.c, 3.e, 4.a, 5.b

It was supposed to come sweeping down in a magnificent display of elegance. However, an owl, which should have delivered rings to a couple at the foot of the aisle on their wedding day, instead flew up into the church rafters and fell asleep for an hour.

The service, in the Holy Cross Church in Sherston, Wiltshire, had to be halted while desperate helpers tried – and failed – to coax the barn owl down. The owl, named Darcey, had other ideas and felt that the corner was far too cosy.

Having fallen asleep for an hour, with red ribbons still attached to its feet, Reverend Chris Bryan decided not to sit through the pause, but continued with a set of back-up wedding rings until the bird felt ready to descend.

source: Metro

to fail – nem sikerül vmi
to be supposed to – úgy volt, hogy…, kellett volna …
display – bemutató
to deliver – szállít, kézbesít
aisle – a templomi padsorok közti folyosó
to halt – megállni, megállítani
to coax – csalogat
cosy – barátságos, kényelmes hely
ribbon – szalag
pause – szünet
back-up – pót
to descend– leszállni