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 

Alapfok (B1) Lyukas szöveg kiegészítése adott egységgel

Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space.

We adopted four kids with Down’s

When Pam and Gerald Patterson decided to adopt, they insisted on one thing – they would only take children with Down’s syndrome. The ……………(1) already had two biological children but after working in a care home together as teenagers, they knew how many kids with special needs are abandoned. So the remarkable pair have dedicated the ……………(2) 27 years to caring for four of those children. Pam, 54, says: “We knew we could give a child with Down’s syndrome all the love and ……………(3) they need, so it made perfect sense.”

The childhood sweethearts live with their adopted children James, 27, Alice, 22, Molly, 19, and five-year-old Ryan, in Leicestershire. And while they face their fair share of problems, the family could not be happier. But Pam insists: “The children have all given us far ……………(4) than we have given them.”

The couple’s biological children, Emma, 32, and 29-year-old Chris, are also brimming with pride. Emma says: “It’s amazing what my parents have done. They really understand their disabilities and put so much time and love into ……………(5) them up. I’m in awe of them.”

Pam met civil servant Gerald, 57, when she was 12 and they married when she was 19. Emma was born four years later, followed by Chris. Pam ……………(6): “They brought us so much joy and convinced us we wanted to extend our family.” Pam and Gerald had both been volunteers at their local Gateway Club, a youth group for children with special needs. So when Pam brought up the idea ……………(7) adopting a child with Down’s, Gerald gave his full support.

They contacted social services and soon ……………(8) James in an adoption magazine. Pam says: “I’ll never forget seeing his picture. He was three months old. ……………(9) was love at first sight.”Four years later, Alice joined their family. Two years after that, biological kids Emma ……………(10) Chris saw Molly, then two, featured in an adoption magazine. Pam says: “They knew we’d be the perfect place for her.” The Pattersons adopted Molly six months later.

Little Ryan was a late addition to their household and Pam admits Gerald initially worried that as parents they were too old. Pam says: “It was 16 years after we adopted Molly. A friend told me about a little boy with Down’s syndrome in an adoption magazine. At first Gerald wasn’t keen. He thought we should be preparing for retirement, but eventually he agreed.” A week later, in June 2010, the adoption agency visited the family, who were instantly smitten with Ryan, then three. “They saw we could provide Ryan with the love and support he’d need. He’s the icing on the cake.”

source: The Sun

Középfok (B2) Olvasott szöveg értése

Tesco black dolls £1 less than white: Shoppers’ horror at ‘ethnic’ price difference

Supermarket giant Tesco was yesterday slammed for selling a black doll £1 cheaper than a white one. Shocked mum Holly Beckett, 22, went to her local branch to buy a toy for a pal’s hospitalised daughter. When she saw two Emmi Baby Dolls for sale side by side she was amazed to see the white version was more EXPENSIVE than the black.

Holly – and other customers she spoke to – reckoned the reason for the price variation was because the dolls have a “different ethnicity”. The white My Lovely Baby was priced at £5.96 – but the black My Beautiful Baby was only £4.97. Despite having different names the dolls are the same apart from different coloured skin and outfits – one pink, one purple – and they make different sounds. Pictures on the side of their boxes display a black girl playing with the black doll and a white girl playing with the white one.

Angry Holly reported the price difference to staff but said she was told it was a simple “pricing error”. But when she returned to the store a week later she was astonished to discover there was still a price difference. Holly – a former Tesco employee who shops at the giant store in Dudley, West Mids – said: “I think it’s disgusting I have to pay one pound more because it’s a white baby.

“At first I reported the price difference because I was worried about what people would think about Tesco. As an ex-employee I didn’t want them to get involved in some kind of race row.” Holly said when she complained to store staff they tried to offer her the white doll at the same price as the black one. She added: “It’s not about the money, but the fact is the white doll is a quid more dear than the black one and that can sow all kinds of ideas in people’s heads.”

Last night a Tesco spokesman said it was because the black dolls went on sale after the white ones  – but at the “introductory” price the white ones had originally been sold for.

source: The Sun

1.         What did shopper Holly find outrageous at Tesco’s?
2.         What are the similarities and differences between the two dolls?
3.         What did she and other shoppers believe to be the reason for the price difference?
4.         What was she concerned about the first time she reported this?
5.         What were the two explanations she was given by Tesco?

Answers:

Alapfok:

1-b, 2-a, 3d, 4-c, 5-a, 6b, 7-d, 8-c, 9-d,  10-b

Középfok:

1. What did shopper Holly find outrageous at Tesco’s? The same brand baby doll with white skin cost £ 1 more than the black one.
2. What are the similarities and differences between the two dolls? The dolls are the same except for their skin colour, the colour of their clothes and the noise they make.
3. What did she and other shoppers believe to be the reason for the price difference? They thought it was due to the doll’s different ethnicity/skin colour.
4. What was she concerned about the first time she reported this? As a former Tesco employee, she didn’t want Tesco to be accused of racism.
5. What were the two explanations she was given by Tesco? First she was told it was a pricing error, then they said the black dolls were sold at an introductory price.