Bài 9_Script
The Party Popper Machine
Hello, I’ll come along to tell you about the invention of mine called the Party Popper Machine.
Here is the diagram of the machine and I’ll just explain how it works. It’s basically a set of
interconnected cogs and wheels that rotate in turn and cause the party popper to pop. The process
begins with what I like to call the party starter! It’s located on the top of the base at the front. I
was very fond of wind-up toys when I was young but sadly I couldn’t find a way to attach a
winder to this contraption. But I think this big round but looks nice and dramatic and my children
fight over getting to push it! The button activates a small motor that’s housed directly under the
box at the front. It generates enough power to get everything going but not so much that it
overheats and needs a cooling fan. The legs elevate the base and help with that. The base also has
another use as it also can also hold up to 10 spare party poppers! So you never need to worry
about running out. Once the motor is running, it turns the spiky wheel that is attached to the
loaded party popper. I call this the detonator! As it turns, the string of the party popper slowly
wraps around it and it is pulled tighter and tighter until it explodes! So much fun!
Formation of fossils
A: So what did he talk about in the second part?
B: Well, that was more theoretical but just as interesting, and there were lots of visuals. You
know how fossils are formed?
A: Not exactly. We all know they’re the remains of living organisms, sort of entombed in
rock, but I don’t know how they get to be there.
B: Well, he basically went through the stages that make that happen.
A: So, did he talk about the conditions that bring about fossilization?
B: Yes - and he used a fish as an example. Here I’ll show you my note.
A: Wow, this is great diagram, Juni!
B: Thanks.
A: Okay, er... Stage 1… ah yes, that’s right. A lot of fossils form underwater, don’t they?
B: Yeah. Like as soon as a fish dies, it sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and as long as a
predator doesn’t come along, it just lies there.
A: Undisturbed.
B: That’s right.
A: And since the ocean bed’s soft - well, most of it is, pretty muddy as well. The fish
gradually gets covered over and can’t be seen any more.
B: Mmm... Apparently, for a fossil to begin to form, you also need conditions where the
light is minimal and there’s very little oxygen.
A: …so the organic matter doesn’t break down too quickly.
B: Yes. And you know there are fault lines, even on the sea bed. And the rock can move.
A: Yes, so once the fish gets buried, I guess that has to happen quite quickly?
B: Mm ... hm. All the sand and sediment piles up into layers and the huge pressure and
weight of all the layers can compacts it and you move on to the Stage 2 where it gets heavier and
heavier until it becomes hard rock.
A: There’ll be no water left so the fish skeleton would be entombed. They can stay like that
for millions of years, can’t it?
B: It can. But during that time, the bones and the skeleton is replaced by minerals.
A: I see. And these minerals sort of mimic the shape of the skeleton.
B: Yes. And that’s how you get a fossil.
A: But how do we find them if they’re buried so far down?
B: Again, it’s all down to the movement of the Earth’s plates. In the last stage, many
millions of years after the fossil has formed, the rock may lift and eventually be above the sea
level.
A: Meanwhile the surface of the rock wears away?
B: Yes. Another natural process called erosion wears away the rock until one day you can
see the tip of fossil.
A: And you break open the rock and there it is.
B: It’s incredible, really.
Debit card
Of course, one of the things you want as soon as you open an account is the debit card. So I
thought I’ll give you a little tour of the essential little piece of this plastic. If you look at the slide,
you’ll see that on the front at the top they tend to have either the name of the bank or the
company which is issued the card. Then a bit more than halfway down on the right, you see this
hologram with the picture which appears to move as you move the card around in front of you.
This sort of detail makes card very hard to forge although like with anything else there are
people out there who try. Then on the back there’s another sophisticated high-tech details, and
that’s the magnetic strip which is black thin going from one side to the other, which contains
certain coded of details. While we’re on the back, you’ll see another lighter strip with three
numbers at the end. That’s your security number, which they always ask for when you use the
card for an Internet purchase or over the phone. And it also has space where you, as the card
holder, should put the signature so the shop assistants can compare it when you sign the payment
slip.
Going back to the front, in the bottom right-hand corner, you usually find the bank logo and just
to the left of it there’s your own name in raised print.
One thing you always need for telephone or Internet sale is the expiry date. And on the card in
front of you, that’s just above the cardholder’s name. Finally, in most places, you have to insert
your card into a machine and key in your PIN. Just above the card number on the left, you can
see a chip. And that chip is there to verify that the PIN you have entered is correct.
The Brownie Camera
The Brownie Camera was introduced in February, 1900 and popularized low-cost photograph
bringing about the concept of the snapshot. As the cost of just a pound, it was intended to be a
camera for everyone could afford and use. It was a simple camera to operate. It was a box
camera made out of cardboard or, later, plastic. On the topic was a strap to enable people to carry
their cameras making photography more convenient to people on the go. The workings of the
camera were secured inside the box by locks on the top and also at the side near the film
advance. When people wanted to take a snapshot, they would put their eye to the rectangular
viewfinder. There were two of these located both on the top and side of the camera allowing
people to take both landscape and portrait pictures. The image from the viewfinder was seen
through a viewfinder lens. There were also two of these on the front of the camera relating in
position to each of the viewfinders. The real lens was placed squarely in a central position on the
front of the camera. When people wanted to take a photo, they would press a small lever at the
side of the camera known as the shutter lever. When this was pressed down, the photo would be
captured. This is one of the most iconic cameras in the world and is responsible for development
of photography as we know it today.
A Coffee Machine
Starting at the beginning, we can see the almost switches just beneath the two lights. Having turn
the machine on, these light now become very important. Once the light on the left is gone out,
we can begin making coffee as it means the water’s now hot enough. Next to that, this is the
water level light. If this is illuminated, it means the machine has not enough water. It is essential
to turn the machine off and add more water the moment this light comes on. Otherwise, you can
damage the heating element. Once you have checked both the heat light and the water light off,
make sure the filter holder that’s the part with handle just on the control panel is in place. Once
you have your cup ready, it is time to press the coffee delivery switch. That’s the button just
above the filter holder beside the boiler meter. Remember to take quick look at the meter as it’s
told you exact temperature of the water. On both the left and right hand side of the machine on
the same level of the filter holder, you can see the steam pipe used for heating milk. This steam
tap needs to be cleaned regularly to avoid blocking. And finally, if you do spilling the coffee,
don’t worry, just make sure that the drain pipe at the bottom of the machine is leading into a sink
or suitable waste container. As with the steam tap, the drain pipe need regularly cleaning.