Summary 4

Summary: describe the life in deserts (120 words)

As what geographers have estimated, about twenty percent of the earth's surface is occupied by deserts. A majority of us view deserts as one unique kind of landscape -- areas with little or no rainfalls.

In actual fact, there are differences between the deserts, though in varying degrees. While it is common for laymen like us to see deserts as rocky or covered with gravel or pebbles, there are some where large sand dunes inhabit. Despite the fact that rainfall is minimal, temperatures do change in deserts, ranging from seasonal ones to daily changes where extreme hotness and coldness are experienced in the day and night.

Unfavorable conditions in the deserts, especially the lack of water, have discouraged many living things from inhabiting these landscapes. Nevertheless, there are exceptionally surviving ones which through their superb tactics, have managed to live through and are still going strong. One such kind is the specialist annual plants which overcome seasonal temperature changes with their extremely short, active life cycles. In events of sudden rain, the plant seeds pullulate and grow very quickly to make full use of the rain water. Their flowers bloom and set seeds that ripen quickly in the hot sun too. Once the water runs dry, the mother plant dies, leaving behind the drought-resistant seeds, waiting patiently for the next rainy season to arrive.

The Cacti, a native in American deserts, adapts to the dry surroundings by having unique body structures. The plant has swollen stems to help store water that carries it through months. By having sharp pines instead of leaves, water loss through respiration is minimized. Besides, these pointed pines also help the plant ward off grazing animals, thus enhancing its survival period.

Besides plants, there are also animals with distinct surviving tactics in deserts too. For instance, Skinks ( desert lizards ) metabolize stored fats in their bulbous tails, producing water to supplement their needs, just like what camels do with the stored food in their humps during long journeys through deserts. Antelopes like the addax, have very low water needs and hence are able to tolerate the conditions in deserts, extracting moisture from the food they eat.

Finally, there are the sandgrouses ( desert birds ) which do not have special features to overcome the drought-like nature in deserts. Hence, to survive in these hot, dry deserts, they need to spend a large part of their time flying in search of waterholes.

gravel		Small pieces of rocks and stones
pullulate		to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need
bulbous		like a bulb

Summary 3

Summary: describing the author's trip in Cherokee. You may adopt the author's point of view (120 words)

During my vacation last May, I had a hard time choosing a tour. Flights to Japan, Hong Kong and Australia are just too common. What I wanted was somewhere exciting and exotic, a place where I could be spared from the holiday tour crowds. I was so happy when Joan called up, suggesting a trip to Cherokee, a county in the state of Oklahoma. I agreed and went off with the preparation immediately.

We took a flight to Cherokee and visited a town called Qualla Boundary Surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery, the town painted a paradise before us. With its Oconaluftee Indian Village reproducing tribal crafts and lifestyles of the 18th century and the outdoor historical pageant Unto These Hills playing six times weekly in the summer nights, Qualla Boundary tries to present a brief image of the Cherokee past to the tourists.

Despite the language barrier, we managed to find our way to the souvenir shops with the help of the natives. The shops are filled with rubber tomahawks and colorful traditional war bonnets, made of dyed turkey feathers. Tepees, cone-shaped tents made from animal skin, are also pitched near the shops. "Welcome! Want to get anything ?" We looked up and saw a middle-aged man smiling at us. We were very surprised by his fluent English. He introduced himself as George and we ended up chatting till lunch time when he invited us for lunch at  a nearby coffee shop.

"Sometimes, I've to work from morning to sunset during the tour season. Anyway, this is still better off than being a woodcutter ..." Remembrance weighed heavy on George's mind and he went on to tell us that he used to cut firewood for a living but could hardly make ends meet. We learnt from him that the Cherokees do not depend solely on trade for survival. During the tour off-peak period, the tribe would have to try out other means for income. One of the successful ways is the "Bingo Weekend". On the Friday afternoons of the Bingo weekends, a large bingo hall will be opened, attracting huge crowds of people to the various kinds of games like the Super Jackpot and the Warrior Game Special. According to George, these forms of entertainment fetch them great returns.

Our final stop in Qualla Boundary was at the museum where arts, ranging from the simple hand-woven oak baskets to wood and stone carvings of wolves, ravens and other symbols of Cherokee cosmology are displayed.

Back at home, I really missed the place and I would of course look forward to the next trip to another exotic place.

tepee		a type of tent in the shape of a cone made from animal skins which is the typical shelter of some Native Americans
make ends meet		to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need
off-peak		not at the most popular time

Summary 2

Summary: describe how Sam became an alcoholic and later kicked the habit (120 Words)

" I want some more beer ..." Sam turned around and saw a dirty, unshaven drunkard mumbling in coherently as he wobbled aimlessly along the road. Shaking his head, Sam continued his way back home.

Sam did not bother to switch on the lights at home. Everyone must be asleep at this late hour, he thought. He tiptoed into Marie's bedroom and found her sleeping soundly, snugly tucked under her pink comforter. Sam bent over and kissed his beloved five-year-old daughter's forehead. "Thanks, dear. If it was not for you, I would never have turned over a new leaf," Sam whispered in gratitude, recalling the drunken man he saw a while ago.

A year ago, after being retrenched from his computer company, Sam felt dejected and worried about how he was going to provide for his family. The situation worsened when he failed to secure a job after months of intensive searching. Soon, Sam began to indulge in alcoholic drinks to drown his sorrows. His savings which was used to sustain the family expenses during his retrenchment was tremendously depleted by his drinking habits. Soon his wife, Catherine, became the family's sole bread winner.

Catherine's efforts to stop Sam from drinking were futile. Alcohol had transformed the once-gentle family man into a violent beast. Sam began to hit his wife when she refused to give hi money for his drinks. Once Catherine tried hiding his drinking bottles, hoping to stop Sam from drinking. Sam was so agitated when he could not find his bottles that he locked Marie into her bedroom and threatened her into revealing the hiding place. The incident instilled terror in Marie and thereafter, she tried her best to avoid Sam.

These traumatic incidents continued until the launch of the "stop Drinking" campaign by the government. Striking and persuasive posters were put up in the public to persuade alcoholics to kick their habit. None of them succeeded in bringing Sam to his senses except one. The poster illustrated an alcoholic man abusing his wife while their terrified daughter cried helplessly. The slogan accompanying the poster was: 'Will Your Children Be Able To Draw A Happy Family Again?'. Sam suddenly recalled a poster entitled 'Happy Family' drawn by Marie for school before he began drinking. As if released from a spell, he realized how irresponsible and abusive he had been. Overcome with guilt, he quit drinking totally.

"Sam, why aren't you going to sleep?" asked a concerned Catherine.

"I'm coming, Catherine," Sam replied with a smile as he headed for his room.

turn over a new leaf		to start behaving in a better way
dejected		unhappy, disappointed or lacking hope
traumatic		If an experience is traumatic, it causes you severe emotional shock and upset

Summary 1

Summary: how camouflaging and mimicry help insects (120 Words)

Have you ever wondered why soldiers are always clad in green? This is to enable them to camouflage themselves during wartime. Hiding in the jungles, their green attire blend into the surrounding trees and shrubs, making it difficult for the enemies to spot them.

Long before man make use of camouflaging, insects have already adopted the tactic of disguise to escape from the clutches of their predators. By having body colors close to those of the rocks and dried leaves, they catch less attention from the predators and hence escape from being pursued. However, this kind of disguise works only if the insects remain still in the presence of their predators.

Butterflies and moths have developed a variety of camouflage strategies since they are quite defenceless and their predators - birds are abundant in supply. Many moth caterpillars resemble dead twigs while the young of certain species of butterflies appear like bird droppings. Adult butterflies and moths camouflage themselves too, in attempts to escape from their hunters -- birds who are superior gliders. Possessing wings which resemble dried leaves help certain butterflies and moths to hide among heaps of dried leaves when predators are around.

Fortunately, not all insects choose the art of disguise to escape from their predators; otherwise, the world would be so dull and colorless. There are insects which assimilate the bright body colors of bees and wasps to escape from being pursued by their predators. The concept of mimicry was derived, owing to the bees and wasps. Long ago, birds have already learnt to avoid brilliantly colored wasps and bees in fear of their painful stings. Hence, over millions of years, many harmless insects have assimilated the bees and wasps by imitating their bright body colors and shapes. In this way, they appear dangerous to their predators and hence ward them off.

Mimics of the wasps and bees are most commonly found in the gardens. The furry, plump bee-fly not only appears like the bumble bee in terms of body colors, even its hums sound similar too. The only difference is that the bee-fly does not have a sting and is hence harmless. The hoverfly is another insect which imitates the body colors of the wasps. Their bodies are striped yellow and black. The only deviations are that hoverflies do not have stings and they have only one pair of wings each while wasps have two pairs each. These variations are hardly noticed by the predators and hence help them to escape.

camouflage		the use of leaves, branches, paints and clothes for hiding soldiers or military equipment so that they look part of their surroundings
assimilate		to become similar to
ward off		to prevent something unpleasant from harming or approaching you