Why is it that someone who seems healthy and has no underlying conditions could be killed by this virus when so many of their peers pull through just fine?
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It would seem that a good way to earn a powerful rebuke on the front page your state's largest newspaper is to suggest that your city act as a "control group" for the effects of reopening in a pandemic.
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By the time New York City confirmed its first case of the coronavirus on March 1, thousands of infections were already silently spreading through the city, a hidden explosion of a disease that many still viewed as a remote threat.
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Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has been an adamant proponent of reopening her city, calling the shutdowns "total insanity." On Wednesday, Goodman appeared on CNN for an interview with Anderson Cooper and it was, well, insanity.
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There's a lot of spare time to fill these days, and creative endeavors like drawing and music production help keep us busy. With a 12.9-inch iPad Pro at hand, it's a lot easier to turn our thoughts into art.
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With more people staying inside and streaming movies, more scrutiny is being given to the 2015 sci-fi adventure film "Jurassic World" and its spectacularly over-the-top death scene.
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"My daughters had to go to stay with their uncles during the quarantine. I had to work and I kept my dog Lilo, and she cried every time we made video calls."
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One of Australia's best-known destinations for swimming, diving and snorkeling, the Great Barrier Reef has been threatened by coral bleaching. What will it look like in 50 years?
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Before Irv Teibel, listening to nature meant leaving the house. Here's the story of the man who brought the rain, thunder and crickets to your stereo, one satisfied, relaxed customer at a time.
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TOP eurocrat Ursula von der Leyen is calling for European Union leaders to commit €2 trillion to rebuild the bloc after the economic and political devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.
FEARS of second coronavirus wave are growing in China after officials in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang reimposed travel bans amid claims people flying in from Russia were to blame for a spate of fresh cases.
THE DEATH of North Korean despot Kim Jong-un would spark a military confrontation that "will make Afghanistan and Iraq pale in comparison," defence experts have warned.
LEO VARADKAR has warned the next phase of Ireland's coronavirus crisis could be "far more divisive" as the the full impact of the pandemic on people's lives becomes clear in the coming months.
EMMANUEL MACRON is facing major unrest in French cities as locals and police clash violently, forcing the French President to start "monitoring" the situation personally.
CHINA's illegal wildlife trade demands have led to traffickers force-feeding pangolins to increase their weight and price on the black market, a bombshell BBC investigation revealed.
FRANCE'S far-right Rassemblement national party on Wednesday said President Emmanuel Macron's "laxist" government was to blame for the flare-up of violence on the outskirts of Paris, where a heavy police presence to enforce the coronavirus lockdown has exacerbated tensions.
THE bitter divisions within the eurozone which the coronavirus pandemic has exposed make it more imperative than ever that Britain cuts links with the European Union at the end of the year and completes Brexit as planned, a City-based financial law expert has said.
FRANCE and Germany are at logger heads over the European Unions's response to coronavirus, with member states desperately scrambling to create a bloc-saving coronavirus rescue fund.
Your gaming mouse is probably one of the most personal bits of kit you’ll ever buy for your PC, so replacing your favourite and best gaming mouse when it finally bites the dust can be right old chore sometimes, especially if it’s an old model you can’t buy anymore. The good news is that there are loads of great gaming mice around today that will (hopefully) fill that mouse-shaped hole in your life, and to help you in your quest to find your new best gaming mouse, I’ve put together this list of my top recommendations that you can buy right now.
Every gaming mouse on my best gaming mouse list has been tried and tested right here at RPS, and you’ll find everything here from the best cheap gaming mouse and the best ambidextrous gaming mice right up to my top wireless gaming mouse picks as well. I’ve also got gaming mice for different hand sizes, too, as some of us prefer lightweight mice to great big chunkers. Whether you’re looking for, I guarantee there’s a best gaming mouse pick waiting for you below.
I see you PC gamers looking longingly at your Nintendo Switch wishing it was a tiny, miniature gaming PC. I know I do, and that’s partly why I’m hopeful / excited / vaguely optimistic about Dell’s Alienware UFO doodad, which they unveiled earlier in the year. But while the UFO was just a ‘concept’ device, the mad folk over at GamePad Digital, or GPD, have actually gone and made a proper 8in handheld gaming laptop. Sure, the GPD Win Max looks like one of those jumbo Nokia Communicator phones from the mid-90s, but inside it packs one of Intel’s new 10th Gen Comet Lake CPUs, Intel’s Iris Plus graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, an 8in display and the disembowelled remains of an Xbox 360 controller. It’s absolutely nutty, but I also kind of dig it.
Impeded by the hurdle of starting to work from home, Ubisoft have announced a delay for Trackmania, their arcade racing game with a big focus on letting players build their own tracks. Previously due on May 5th, it’s now expected July 1st. Ubisoft say this new Trackmania is a remake of 2006’s Trackmania Nations, the one which focused on the stadium races – none of those squillions of other cars types and that. For now, you can see a bit in the first trailer.
Like the better known Beat Saber, Pistol Whip is a virtual reality rhythm game, but here you’re firing bullets at silhouetted figures in time to the music. It’s Hotline Miami via Guitar Hero.
If you need some more period piece stealth to tide you over until Desperados 3, stealth platformer Wildfire might just do it. As one of few magic users left in the world, you’ll use your abilities to burn, freeze, and grow the environment as you protect villagers and outwit the enemies hunting you down. It’ll be burning down the house on May 26th.
Steam Labs is back with another experiment and this time Valve are attempting to solve discrepancies in human communication with computers. You know how Steam do. Humans can’t ever seem to agree on how to classify games. What exactly is a “soulslike”? How about a roguelike or a roguelike-like? Is Stardew Valley a simulation? Not really, but we call it one. Steam is teaching its computers some logic so that it can give you better results when you search by tags.
Looks like there’s a drip somewhere in Valve’s spigot. Source code for both Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has apparently been made public. The files appear to be from years ago, though that may not prevent present troublemakers from doing their thing. Some fan servers are worried enough that they’ve gone offline until they can assure that these leaks won’t compromise the security of players. So far it’s unclear where the leak originated, though of course that hasn’t stopped anyone from guessing or pointing fingers.
Update: Valve have now responded to RPS to say they are still investigating but currently “have not found any reason for players to be alarmed or avoid the current builds” of either game.
The loveliest thing I’ve seen today: the farm and farmhouse of Stardew Valley drawn as a Polly Pocket toy by artist Brittnie Marcil. Polly Pocket, if you don’t know, was a line of teeny doll houses, dioramas, and playsets hidden inside mock makeup cases. Pleasing little treasures. While we could never afford such fancy toys when I was a nipper, I remain wholly delighted by Marcil’s picture today. Come admire!
If you’ve not heard of Itta, that’s alright. It’s got plenty of familiar touchstones to help you along your way. It’s a stew with chunks of big bass boss rushing, action-y bullet dodging, and grim indie game sadness. It’s out today, so you can skip off to try it if any of those hooks entice you.
Untitled Goose Game is a game about being a horrible goose, about making a mess and watching hapless Brits try to clear it up again. But under all that, it’s a game about things. Apples, hair brushes, keys, mallets, toy planes, tulips, teapots. After all, it takes things to mess things up.
“Items are the language of the game,” co-designer Nico Disseldorp tells me. “They’re both the tools and the reward. They play a really central role in so much of what we do, and how people play.”
The small snowy map of Vikendi returned to Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds with the start of Season 7 today, having been pulled from rotation in January for improvements. They’ve removed a few villages, added more cover in places, reduced the amount of snow across a lot of the island, and, most importantly, rebuilt the scrappy old Dino Park (which I did already adore) as the larger and flashier Dinoland. While you can’t ride its rusty ferris wheel or the broken rollercoaster winding around a volcano, the overhaul has added something you can ride: new trains now trundling around the map. Pleasing.
Don’t worry, Warzone, it’s totally natural for free-to-play battle royales of your size to have these growing pains. As with just about any competitive game, Call Of Duty: Warzone cheaters have been diligently looking for ways to game the game to victory. In order to preserve some semblance of fair competition for the rest of us, Infinity Ward say they’ll be throwing suspected cheaters into their own lobbies away from the rest of us.
WHO warns coronavirus 'will be with us for a long time' and says most of the world's population remains at risk from catching the disease https://t.co/kF2XTvkzsx
China, the world's biggest energy consumer, is taking advantage of a plunge in global oil prices due to the coronavirus outbreak to build up its stockpiles of crude. https://t.co/BBJJOrKeZx
The service's aircraft carrier boss says the COVID economic slowdown hasn't effected building new carriers -- yet.
WASHINGTON: The Navy's rushed effort to retrofit its newest aircraft carrier to operate the F-35 is forcing the service to put some work on two more new Ford-class carriers on hold, while the service juggles work on all three big decks.
The $11 billion USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) was designed and christened without the capability to fly the 5th generation fighter because of cost caps and the aircraft's infamously delayed development. Those schedule slippages forced the Navy to design and build the ships while the messy F-35 was still undergoing development.
In the 2020 NDAA Congress indicated it had had it's fill of delays to the carrier and ordered the Navy to get to work refitting the Kennedy before it sets sail in 2024, forcing the Navy to improvise and refit the just-christened ship.
Speaking with reporters today, Rear Adm. James Downey, head of the Navy's carrier programs, said those changes are forcing him to hold off on some early work on the forthcoming USS Enterprise (CVN 80), the third Ford-class carrier, and the USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) to ensure the Kennedy retrofits are done correctly before incorporating them on the other ships which have just started their build cycles.
A woman wearing a protective face mask rides a scooter across a nearly empty 3rd Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus in New York City. REUTERS/Mike Segar
WNU Editor: The above picture came from this photo-gallery .... Top Photos of the Day (Reuters).
* The Defense Department's top acquisition official said this week that the Pentagon expects a three-month delay on major weapons programs due to the coronavirus pandemic. * The pandemic and the work stoppages it has caused have upended the defense industry, and it may still be to soon to tell what effect it will have on smaller firms within the sector.
The Defense Department expects three-month delay to major programs as the coronavirus ripples through supply chains, though it may still be too soon to know how long it will take those suppliers to recover.
"We believe that there will be a three-month impact that we can see right now, so we're looking at schedule delays and inefficiencies," Ellen Lord, the Pentagon's chief of acquisition and sustainment, told reporters Monday.
"That isn't a particular program. That's MDAPs in general," Lord said, referring to major defense acquisition programs, which includes purchases of and upgrades to items like aircraft and ships, without naming any specifically.
WNU Editor: This 3 month expectation is based on the premise that the pandemic and the restrictions it has imposed will end soon. I am not that optimistic.
Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on #COVID19. #coronavirus
American officials were alarmed by fake text messages and social media posts that said President Trump was locking down the country. Experts see a convergence with Russian tactics.
WASHINGTON — The alarming messages came fast and furious in mid-March, popping up on the cellphone screens and social media feeds of millions of Americans grappling with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Spread the word, the messages said: The Trump administration was about to lock down the entire country.
"They will announce this as soon as they have troops in place to help prevent looters and rioters," warned one of the messages, which cited a source in the Department of Homeland Security. "He said he got the call last night and was told to pack and be prepared for the call today with his dispatch orders."
The messages became so widespread over 48 hours that the White House's National Security Council issued an announcement via Twitter that they were "FAKE."
Since that wave of panic, United States intelligence agencies have assessed that Chinese operatives helped push the messages across platforms, according to six American officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to publicly discuss intelligence matters. The amplification techniques are alarming to officials because the disinformation showed up as texts on many Americans' cellphones, a tactic that several of the officials said they had not seen before.
WNU Editor: My brother fell for this. Calling me at 1:30 AM that President Trump was going to declare martial law. And even though martial law has not been declared, he still believes that President Trump will declare it in the future. Unlike the Russians, the Chinese are very good at spreading disinformation and propaganda. This is how China wages war, and the U.S. better wake up.
More News On U.S. Intelligence Officials Saying Chinese Agents Helped Spread Fake Messages That Sowed Virus Panic in U.S.
* University of Washington School of Medicine had airlifted tens of thousands of kits from Shanghai factory * Liquid in small percentage of vials changed colour, an indication of bacterial growth. Some appeared cloudy, too
The University of Washington School of Medicine went to extraordinary lengths to airlift tens of thousands of Covid-19 testing kits from China during a nationwide shortage of sampling swabs and the liquid that preserves specimens for diagnostic testing.
In short: a Seattle importer used a business associate in China, who had a connection to a doctor in the province hardest hit by the disease, to secure testing kits from a Shanghai factory and then have them flown stateside as soon as possible on an Amazon-chartered plane. UW Medicine allocated US$125,000 to purchase the kits.
The story of the testing swabs illustrated what authorities are willing to risk to secure more supplies for Covid-19 testing, which experts say will need to ramp up before distancing restrictions in Washington can be safely removed.
WNU Editor: My brother works in the bio-tech field in the Bay Area (San Francisco), and is now involved in producing a component that is vital in test kits. He told me last week that everyone he knows are well aware that some of the medical products coming from China were dangerous. He specifically pointed out their test kits for Covid-19. The Europeans have also realized that there is a problem with Chinese made medical kits (see above video).
The Saudis and Russians have declared war against US shale energy companies. It seems they weren't happy with American energy independence. Storage full..largest glut in history..Saudis are sending us a 50 million barrel oil bomb. How negative will June crude go? #Oil#USOILhttps://t.co/oiNfkI2pfM
By now even the 165,727 "professional investors" who are long the USO ETF on the free, glitch-prone platform Robin Hood, are aware that the problem facing global oil production is that there is simply no storage where to put all the physical oil (as we warned in late March).
And if even the army of Robinhood-ers now know how impossible it is to find space for physical oil on the continental US, then Saudi Arabia - which sparked the current crude crisis and which will not stop until shale is completely crushed - is certainly aware.
Which is why with the US unable to store its own output, some 50 million barrels of Saudi oil are on their way to the United States and due to arrive in the coming weeks, piling even more pressure on markets already struggling to absorb a glut of stocks, Reuters and MarineTraffic reported.
China's naval capabilities continue to grow at an incredible rate. New classes of warship are being constructed at an impressive rate, vastly modernizing the World's largest Navy. Today the Chinese Navy has floated a new assault carrier in Shanghai, just yards from its sister ship which caught fire less than 2 weeks ago. The new carrier is the second of the Type-075 class, large amphibious warfare ships. Equivalent to the U.S. Navy's America class ships, these 40,000 ton ships support troop landings. They will carry an array of helicopters and also hovercraft. Both ships can be seen in the images below:
This is the photo of the secret Losharik submarine as it was printed in the Russian version of Top Gear this week. (Photo: Top Gear)
Russian media say that the sub on which the 14 servicemen died was an AS-12 "Losharik", which is used for special operations. This is the same sub that the US claimed was capable of damaging undersea cables, accusing Russia of seeking to intercept or disrupt communications. pic.twitter.com/t4VcVSDJfN
OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY — There could hardly have been a more terrifying place to fight a fire than in the belly of the Losharik, a mysterious deep-diving Russian submarine.
Something, it appears, had gone terribly wrong in the battery compartment as the sub made its way through Russian waters 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the First of July.
A fire on any submarine may be a mariner's worst nightmare, but a fire on the Losharik was a threat of another order altogether. The vessel is able to dive far deeper than almost any other sub, but the feats of engineering that allow it do so may have helped seal the fate of the 14 sailors killed in the disaster.
The only thing more mysterious than what exactly went wrong that day is what the sub was doing in a thousand feet of water just 60 nautical miles east of Norway in the first place.
WNU Editor: This is a sad tale, and where the bravery of these doomed men last year probably prevented a major nuclear accident from occurring just 60 nautical miles off the coast of Norway.
For those who are not aware of this story, I did a few posts on this last year (see below):
The Chinese government has released video it says was shot inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in an attempt to counter claims, investigations, and evidence that the coronavirus leaked from the bio-lab.
According to reports, the US government is now 'near certain' that the lab was the origin of the virus, and several lawsuits have already been filed stating exactly this.
The video, released by Chinese state media, is said to be from February, and shows scientists in full personal protective equipment working within the lab. An emphasis is placed on the safety measures in place at the lab.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein visits Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on March 11, 2020, to discuss operating during the coronavirus pandemic. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong.
The Air Force is preparing for the coronavirus to be cyclical until a vaccine is developed, the service's top general said Wednesday.
In a conference call with reporters, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said his service is preparing for a "new reset" June 1 to be able to continue to operate in a "new abnormal" environment until a coronavirus vaccine is ready.
"All the predictions are no vaccine for upwards of a year, so that means we've got to refine our ability to survive and operate and do the missions the nation require," Goldfein said. "And we've got to bring back those missions that we slowed down, so we can get back to some kind of a sense of new normalcy in an abnormal world."
Matt Green, mining/crushing supervisor at MP Materials, displays crushed ore before it is sent to the mill at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Steve Marcus
MOUNTAIN PASS, Calif. (Reuters) - The United States wants to curb its reliance on China for specialized minerals used to make weapons and high-tech equipment, but it faces a Catch-22.
It only has one rare earths mine - and government scientists have been told not to work with it because of its Chinese ties.
The mine is southern California's Mountain Pass, home to the world's eighth-largest reserves of the rare earths used in missiles, fighter jets, night-vision goggles and other devices.
But the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has told government scientists not to collaborate with the mine's owner, MP Materials, the DOE's Critical Materials Institute told Reuters.
This is because MP Materials is almost a tenth-owned by a Chinese investor and relies heavily on Chinese sales and technical know-how, according to the company.
WNU Editor: The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has shown to the world how unreliable China is. Couple this with past Chinese threats to use rare earths in disputes, it is understandable why the Pentagon wants alternative sources .... China Raises Threat of Rare-Earths Cutoff to U.S. (Foreign Policy). I do expect the U.S. will quickly secure weapons-grade minerals that are independent from China. It will be more expensive, but consider how important these minerals are, it is a price that many will be willing to pay.
The world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN has warned.
David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was needed to avoid a catastrophe.
A report estimates that the number suffering from hunger could go from 135 million to more than 250 million.
Those most at risk are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change, the WFP says.
The fourth annual Global Report on Food Crises highlights Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti.
In South Sudan, 61% of the population was affected by food crisis last year, the report says.
Turkish and US troops meet on the Turkish-Syrian border for a joint patrol in northern Syria, as it is pictured from near the Turkish town of Akcakale, Turkey, Sept. 8, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Freedom of information request filed after Pentagon stopped publishing figures for Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria
The Trump administration is being challenged to reveal how many troops the US has in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria – and to explain why it stopped publishing those figures more than two years ago.
The Just Security website and the Project on Government Oversight have filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act (Foia) for the number of military and civilian defence personnel assigned to the three countries since December 2017, when public records were stopped. They also requested "underlying documents that explain why the [defence department] withheld the numbers".
Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Wednesday that it launched a military satellite into orbit amid wider tensions with the United States, a successful launch after months of failures.
"Iran's first military satellite, Noor, was launched this morning from central Iran in two stages. The launch was successful and the satellite reached orbit," state TV said, according to Reuters.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch.
The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon, which say that such launches advance Iran's ballistic missile program, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.
On its official website, the Guard said the satellite successfully reached an orbit of 264 miles above the Earth's surface.
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels conducted what the U.S. Navy described as "unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. Military ships by crossing the ships' bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters" of the Persian Gulf, a longtime flashpoint for tensions between Washington and Tehran. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard announced enhanced capabilities for its naval fleet, including extended anti-ship missile range and faster vessels capable of outpacing its top rival, the United States.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said Monday that his forces now "have a variety of surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 700 km [more than 430 miles] produced domestically." He also touted the production of new warships, such as the 55-meter catamaran-style helicopter carrier inaugurated in 2016, along with other vessels that are said to be capable of reading speeds of up to 90 knots, or "three times faster than American vessels."
"Wherever the Americans have been present, insecurity has arisen, and we do not know where the presence of the United States has led to security," Tangsiri said.
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he has instructed the US Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats" that harass US ships.
"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump wrote.
It's unclear if Trump's tweet amounts to a standing order, and whether Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, would fire upon an Iranian boat. Such an order would further raise the possibility of a miscalculation between the two longtime foes, which nearly went to war earlier this year after the US killed a top Iranian military commander.
Regardless of the practical effect of Trump's tweet, it's the latest provocative threat he has levied against Iran, and it comes amid scrutiny of his handling of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
WNU Editor: The reaction has been predictable .... Critics go after Trump for saying US would 'shoot down' aggressive Iranian boats (USA Today). As to what is my take. I am not surprised by this tweet. Tens of thousands of Americans have died in the past few weeks because of this pandemic. Trillions of dollars lost because of the economic shut-down. Now is not the time to test the U.S.. But in the case of Iran I do expect them to test the U.S.. Especially after this threat. But Iran's options to retaliate in the event that their ships do harass US ships and are sunk are limited. They can shut down the Gulf, but with 40 million barrels of oil being produced everyday that has no markets, even completely shutting down the Strait of Hormuz will not impact global prices or supply as long as this pandemic continues.There are U.S. targets in Iraq and there are American allies in the Gulf as well as Israel that Iran can strike. But that opens a Pandoras Box that I do not think Iran wants to open.
More News On President Trump Issuing Orders To The U.S. Navy To Destroy Any Iranian Warships That Harass U.S. Ships
Even as states move ahead with plans to reopen their economies, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday that a second wave of the novel coronavirus will be far more dire because it is likely to coincide with the start of flu season.
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an interview with The Washington Post. "And when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don't understand what I mean."
"We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time," he said.
* Recent reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's health was at risk have renewed concerns about could happen after his death. * It's not clear if Kim has picked a successor, and his sudden death could destabilize the region and force the US and others in the region to react.
A Kim Jong Un demise could destabilize the region, create a massive refugee flow and force the US, South Korea and possibly other regional allies to react to the upheaval.
That's how experts contacted by Military Times see a Kim-less future possibly unfolding in the nuclear-armed Hermit Kingdom.
The questions about what would happen should Kim die or be incapacitated were sparked by a CNN report that the North Korean despot was in "grave danger" following a surgery. However, the Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean-government funded organization, later tweeted out that there were "no unusual signs" of Kim's health.
But even if he isn't on his death bed, Kim does have health issues and his exit from the stage would create turmoil, experts say.
WNU Editor: I do not see any special or extra South Korean or U.S. military movements at the moment. But I am sure there are discussions in many governments that border North Korea on who will control North Korea's nuclear arsenal in the event that Kim Jong Un passes away.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence do not believe he is gravely ill or that the regime is preparing for a transition of power. CNN's report that the U.S. intelligence community is closely monitoring Kim's health is accurate, but it should not be taken as a cause for excitement. The United States always pays close attention to Kim's whereabouts, activities, health, and who he keeps in his inner circle.
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean state media on Wednesday made no mention of leader Kim Jong Un's health or whereabouts, a day after intense international speculation over his health was sparked by media reports he was gravely ill after a cardiovascular procedure.
North Korean media presented a business as usual image, carrying routine reporting of Kim's achievements and publishing some of his older, or undated, comments on issues like the economy.
South Korean and Chinese officials and sources familiar with U.S. intelligence have cast doubt on South Korean and U.S. media reports that he was seriously sick, while the White House said it was closely monitoring the matter.
Update #2: I agree with this report that the South Korean government is plugged into what is happening in North Korea .... Conflicting reports on Kim's health reveal intelligence access to NK (Korea Herald). But aside from telling the world that Kim Jong Un is OK, the South Korean government has said nothing on why Kim Jong Un has disappeared since last week.
The Friends List feature in Discord is the perfect solution to socializing while gaming. Call up a few of your closest gamer contacts and connect from anywhere to enjoy your favorite games together.
Discord has several chats and audio options including screen share and video calling. The possibilities are endless. Linking up with other gamers or friends is simple if you follow a few steps.
Discord does you the service of providing a feature that allows you to list not only your favorite team, but it also lets you communicate with anyone else who happens to be using the platform. If you’d like to send a DM to a person who is not on your friend’s list in Discord check out this article.
This mass communication software means that you won’t have to remember every person’s username when trying to make a connection. In this article, I’ll go over the different ways in which to add friends, both new and old, to your Discord Friends List.
How To Add Friends In Discord
There are a few different ways in which to add friends to your Friends List. You can search for them using their username and gamer tag if you know it. There is also the ability to add a friend through their profile as well as by using a right-click menu. I’m going to breakdown each of them as well as what you can find using the Friends List Window.
Discord Friends List Window
Having friends added to the Friends List means you won’t have to share a server to send DM’s, create group chats, or check their online status. You’ll have direct access to each of these things right there in the Friends Window.
To get to your Friends List Window:
While logged into Discord, click the Discord icon at the top-left of the screen (this should be listed above the list of servers you’re involved in.
From the Discord Menu, click on the Friends icon located to the right of your servers list.
When you have friends already added, you can sort them all through the Friends List Window. There are a few tabs to swap between depending on how you want the list displayed:
ALL – This tab will display every one of your friends currently added to your list.
ONLINE – This shows you each and every one of your friends from the list that are currently online, including those who may be idle.
PENDING – All friend requests that you’ve received will be sitting here. You can scroll through and accept or reject until your heart’s content.
BLOCKED – Every user you’ve blocked will be listed here.
Technically, only those you’re willing to call friend will be found in the “Online” or “All” tabs. While looking at the lists, information is broken down into three columns:
NAME – The friend’s username (not to be confused with their full tag).
STATUS – You’ll find their online status and game they’re currently playing in this column.
MUTUAL SERVERS – If you share a server with any of your friends, the server name will appear here. Your window may need to be expanded if the mutual servers are not showing up.
You can open up a DM with one of your friends by clicking on the horizontal bar that appears while hovering above one of them. Also, if you share a server, you can click the server name to be taken directly to that server’s #general channel.
So let’s get back to that relevant button mentioned earlier – Add Friend.
Add Friend Via Username & Tag
You can add some gamer buddies directly from your Friends List Window, by clicking on the Add Friend button. After clicking on the button, a new window appears:
There are a couple of different things to take away from this window but for now, we’ll focus on the text box. If you happen to know the DiscordTag of the friend you’d like to add, you can type it into the box and hit Send Friend Request.
A DiscordTag requires you to have the friend’s full username (case-sensitive), followed by a series of #s, finished with their 4-digit DiscordTag. All of this information can be obtained from either the friend providing it to you or pulling it up from their profile. You can also left-click their avatar if you have it readily available to you.
By typing this completely inside the text box, you’ll receive either a green-colored message:
indicating the request was a success or a red-colored message:
that tells you that something was wrong. If you experience the red message, be sure to double-check that all information typed in is correct and give it a go once more.
If you’d like to connect a few of your other social media accounts to your Discord, you can do so by smashing the Connect Accounts button located at the bottom of the window. You’ll need to log in and provide authorization to each of the social media platforms you want to connect. Doing this will populate friends in the “Friends Suggestion” section so long as they too have a Discord account.
Add Friend Via Profile Button
If you chose to locate the friend’s DiscordTag by visiting their profile, you may have caught a glimpse of a pretty, green Send Friend Request button like this:
Unsure of how to get back to a user’s profile?
There are a couple of ways to add friends in Discord. You can either:
Left-click a future friend’s avatar and then left-click the avatar again inside the new window. OR
Right-click the potential friend’s name or avatar and select Profile from the menu.
Add Friend Via Right-Click Menu
This alternative to adding a friend is likely the simplest. No need for a strong memory or searching through profiles. All you need to do to shoot out a friend request is to right-click the soon-to-be hombre’s name and select Add Friend from the menu.
Super quick, super sweet! Following these steps will net you your own gamer crew in no time.
Friending Mutual Acquaintances in Group Chats
Assuming you’ve connected with someone via chat and would like to send a friend request to individual in your messages there are a few things you can do. As stated above; you’ll need the 4-digit code that accompanies the username. This may not appear readily available.
From the group chat, you can click on the profile picture of the sender you’d like to link up with. Their full username will appear in the chatbox; four-digit code included. Once you’ve gathered this information you can follow the above-listed steps to send the friend request.
Tinder’s simple design has always contributed to its popular appeal. Few app gestures are so well-known as the “right-swipe” on Tinder. Unfortunately, that simplicity is not without a few downsides. In order to keep the design uncluttered, Tinder has historically limited users’ photo and information sharing.
While this is nice when you’re just looking for a sneak peak at someone, it doesn’t provide a well-rounded, or even relatively unfiltered look at anyone’s life. Recently, Tinder has changed its tack, allowing users to broaden their Tinder profile by connecting it with some of your their favorite apps, like Spotify and Instagram.
Connecting your Tinder profile to your Instagram account seems like a no-brainer. If people could only get a glimpse of your immaculately curated Instagram, along with your witty captions, you would be swimming in matches! But you might want to think again before tapping “Connect” – and if you already have connected, you might want to think about tapping “Disconnect.”
Connect Tinder to Instagram
Tired of only having six photo slots for your Tinder profile, but 26 sides to your personality? Connect your Instagram account to your Tinder profile and users will be able to see the 34 most recent images on your Instagram profile. You read that right… 34!
If that’s not enough for you – though honestly it really should be – users can also tap on those photos to go straight to your Instagram profile and see the rest. Of course, that’s only if your Instagram profile is public. If your profile is private, they’ll only be able to see the last 34 images you have posted from the Tinder app.
Connecting your Instagram to your Tinder is simple:
Open Tinder on your mobile device.
Tap on the profile icon in the upper left hand corner.
Tap Edit Info.
Scroll down to Instagram Photos, and tap Connect.
Use your Instagram username and password to login. Alternatively, you can use your Facebook account to connect.
Tap Authorize on the final screen to allow Tinder access to your Instagram profile.
Just like that, your potential Tinder dates can see so much more of you. Ideally, this will result in more matches.
Is Connecting Instagram to Tinder a Good Idea?
That is the question. To answer it for yourself, think carefully about what Tinder is and how it works. It’s something between a hookup app and a dating app, which means there are people on it with very different objectives. Not everyone on Tinder has good motives.
Second, the bar for creating a Tinder profile is extremely low. Anyone with a Facebook account can make a profile without any background check whatsoever. They can then find you on the app, know roughly how old you are, how far away you are, and what you look like. All of that and, of course, anything else you decide to share.
Now imagine you add your Instagram account on top of all of that. They can see many more images of you and learn all about you. They can likely deduce your real name, and the names of your best friends.
If you do not have a private account, they can see who follows you and who you follow. They can see comments that you’ve made on other people’s posts. They may even be able to access other social media accounts through that one via links that you and others share.
It’s easy to forget the importance of privacy and discretion in the age of social media. It’s important to remember caution, especially when you plan to meet internet people in person. Now of course Tinder is not full of creeps – but it is full of strangers. Think carefully before you decide whether you should connect your Instagram profile.
If you already have connected your Instagram, and you’re second-guessing yourself, it might be time to disconnect it.
Disconnect Tinder from Instagram
Have you changed your mind about displaying all of those photos? Maybe there were a few shots in your most recent 34 images that you would rather not show future dates. Lucky for you, disconnecting is as easy as connecting.
Open Tinder on your mobile device.
Tap on the profile icon in the upper left corner.
Tap Edit Info.
Scroll down to Instagram Photos
Tap Disconnect.
Tap OK to confirm.
Just like that, your Tinder profile is back to it’s six-picture status. May it perform well, and may the Tinder algorithm gods smile upon your swipes.
For movie fans, the rise of streaming has made it possible for vast film libraries to be accessible to the entire world via the Internet. However, these movies are owned by companies who want to get paid when people see their movies. Some holders have been fairly generous about this, and licensed out their material at reasonable prices so that it could reach a wide audience. Other folks have been a little less forthcoming.
Back in the days of broadcast TV, there were only a few channels available, but they were all ad-supported and thus free at the point of use. Today there are numerous streaming service, but most of them want a monthly subscription fee. Although services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO all offer trials, it’s not actually possible to obtain those services for free for more than a month or so – and the subscription fees for paid streaming channels run anywhere from $5.99 to $14.99 a month.
There are lower-cost alternatives. RedBox, the 21st century equivalent of the video store, is still a thriving concern, with kiosks around the country offering a cheap way to rent DVDs, but not everyone is able to access those platforms, and the selection at RedBox is limited at best. There are torrenting sites that provide access to commercial movies and TV shows for free, but it comes with a number of legal and ethical issues. For one, streaming a movie for free through most torrent websites means you’re breaking copyright law. Illegally streaming copyrighted material is covered under the Copyright Act of 1976, and allows for people caught pirating content to be fined anywhere between $750 to $30,000 per copyrighted work.
However, there are alternatives to both torrenting and the RedBox kiosk. There are many legal ad-supported streaming sites that are absolutely free. While you may have to shop around to find the content you’re looking for, you can get a wealth of entertainment without having to pay anything other than a bit of your time for ads. Below, we present our favorite sites and apps that will let you legally watch online movies for free without having to hand over your credit card. These are primarily ad-supported services, without hidden fees or charges.Most of all, they are 100% legitimate – no pirating allowed. It’s the ethical way to go.
The Free Trial Option
Speaking of ethics…every college student and broke 20-something in the world knows about the free trials offered by Netflix, Hulu, and the rest. Some people rotate credit card numbers and email addresses to keep their premium subscription going for a few months. However, those trials are limited, and you’ll eventually run out of credit cards and email addresses.
Hulu and the rest identify unique customers by a combination of the credit card number, the e-mail address, and the IP address used to subscribe to the service – but mainly by the credit card number. You can use a given credit card number to subscribe to one free trial, but you won’t be able to use that card again on that service other than to start paying for the subscription. Rotating your email address and IP address won’t overcome that limitation. It’s how these services prevent the whole world from just free-trialing them to death.
Most of us only have a couple of credit cards, and so we can only sign up for a few trials before we have to sigh, bite the bullet, and start shelling out the $7.99 a month. But what if you had an infinite number of credit cards?
Many credit card companies offer their members virtual credit card numbers, designed specifically for use in online transactions as a fraud prevention device. A virtual credit card number is indistinguishable from a regular card number, but it is temporary, with its own expiration date and CVV code, and points to an existing real credit card. For instance, someone wanting to buy something from Amazon could register their virtual card number on the site and make a purchase, but Amazon would have no record of their real credit card number – just the virtual number. If the Mad Hacking Bandit steals Amazon’s entire database, all he or she has access to is your virtual card – the one that you set to expire the day after you made your purchase.
Virtual credit card numbers are available through at least three major card issuers – Bank of America, Citi, and Capital One. So how do you use this with your Hulu or Netflix trial? Simple. First, generate a new email address via Gmail or some other free site. Then use your VPN to generate a fresh new IP address, just for safety’s sake. Then you use your card issuer’s website or app to generate a new virtual number for your existing credit card. Armed with the new email address and credit card number, you sign up for a 30-day free trial.
When the trial expires, you repeat the process. Since you have an endless supply of credit card numbers, you can continue doing this for as many months as you want the subscription service. It’s a hassle, yes – but it’s free.
However, this process is unethical. It means taking advantage of the subscription service’s desire to give people a chance to preview their service in order to get that service without paying for it. So, decide if you can live with yourself or not before taking this route.
Also note that there are some real downsides. The main one is that you’re going to lose all your watched-show history, because you’re creating a “new” account every time. So you’re going to be retraining the site’s algorithms over and over. Also, you’ll lose your place in any movies or shows that you’ve started to watch when the trial period ends. And of course, you always run the risk that Hulu or Netflix or whoever will get wise to your shenanigans and cut you off.
And now, on to the free (and ethical!) places to get movie content!
Google Hangouts is one of the most popular and most commonly used video call platforms. Google Hangouts enables you to do an audio connection for audio, video, text chat, and screen sharing. You can turn off video to save bandwidth for screen sharing or if you just want audio-only.
Sharing your screen is useful when you want to show documents, videos, presentations, or any other form of content to another person or a group. Screen sharing is particularly used to help someone resolve a technical issue as you can walk them through all the steps necessary to fix the problem as they share their screen with you. Technical support representatives and freelance consultants routinely use screen sharing to help clients resolve problems or to demonstrate the solution to a problem.
This is why we’ve compiled this short walkthrough. Just follow these steps and you’ll be sharing your screens on Google Hangouts in no time!
A Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing a Screen on Google Hangouts
The options for screen sharing vary depending on if you are using the app or the web browser.
Step 1:
The first thing you need to do is to open the Google Hangouts app or webpage. Available on iOS, Android, or from your web browser, once you’ve launched the page you may need to sign in to your Gmail account.
Step 2:
The next thing you want to do is tap on the ‘Video Call’. You will then be prompted to select the people you want in your room so that you can make a new video call with all of them.
Once you select all the names you want, simply click on the “Video Call” button.
Step 3:
Now you need to locate the “Share Screen” located on the top right of the Hangouts Screen (click on the three vertical dots).
Once you’ve pulled up this menu option; click on ‘Share Screen’
For the Application version: you’ll need to click on the three horizontal dots located on the upper-right-hand side of the app. Tap ‘Present Screen.’
Step 4:
Once you click the green button, each action you perform on your screen, be it with a mouse or your keyboard, will be visible to all the participants of your video call.
As a matter of fact, any open window can be shared separately. This means that you can choose whether you want to share your entire screen or you want to share specific folders, such as “My Documents” or perhaps only your internet browser.
Keep in mind that all shared items apart from the entire screen need to be shown in Full-Screen mode if you want to share them via Google Hangouts.
Step 5:
Once you’ve successfully chosen the program or screen you want to share, you just need to click on the “Share” button located in the bottom right. This is if you’re using Google Chrome as your default browser. If you’re using another browser, the button will be referred to as “Start Screenshare”.
Step 6:
Keep in mind that clicking the “Share” button will not instantly share the selected screen with the participants of your video call. It will usually take a few seconds before it loads, so just be patient at this step.
Step 7:
When the video feed of your screen sharing session is successfully loaded, you need to click on the “Present to everyone” button. Clicking on it will finally make the selected screen or program viewable by everyone who is included in that particular room.
Step 8:
Once you’ve done all this, you can actually go and perform all the actions on the screen, window, or program that you wanted to share with the participants. You can now freely type away on your keyboard or use the mouse and all the participants will be able to follow your every move.
Step 9:
When you are done with your little presentation and don’t need to share any screens with your Google Hangouts participants, you need to head back to the active Hangout window. Search for the “Stop” button in the top taskbar and click on it to stop sharing the screen.
Other than that, you can also terminate the video call. This will prevent your Google Hangout video call participants from being able to see the screen you’ve previously shared with them.
Troubleshooting
There are also situations where screen sharing won’t work in Google Hangouts. If you’re having issues with Google Hangouts or the screen sharing feature, there are a few things to try to get it working properly.
In most cases when screen sharing stops working in the middle of a session, it usually has something to do with the web browser you’re using.
1. Change the Browser
If you experience any glitches when sharing screens in Google Hangouts, you should first try doing the same but using another browser. If you use Safari or Mozilla Firefox, try using Google Chrome, which is a web browser developed by Google.
2. Clear the Browser Cache
When used for prolonged periods of time, browsers often need their Cache cleared. Clearing your cache means that the browser will not load the website from cache but will instead go the website to load a fresh, updated version. You can find the cache clearing process in the settings and can be done quickly.
Once you’ve cleared the browser cache, try repeating the screen sharing process as explained in the steps above.
3. Update the Application
If you’re using a mobile device you’ll want to make sure that your Google Hangouts app is up-to-date with the most current software.
For those who are new to the application; ensure that your device settings allow audio and video when launching. By visiting the settings on your phone or tablet; you can ensure that the permissions are turned on for the application.
If issues persist, delete the application and download it again.
Conclusion
As you can see, sharing your entire screen or selected apps and windows in your Google Hangouts video calls is a very easy process. By doing so, you can share the important stuff with your loved ones, colleagues, and clients in no time. You can even Record your Google Hangouts Calls.
Instagram Stories have become one of the app’s most popular features as they allow people to upload and share parts of their day with their followers.
If you use this feature, you are probably wondering who watches your Stories and why other users’ Stories are posted in the order that they are. Believe it or not, Instagram is smarter than you think.
A Smart Algorithm
Instagram uses an algorithm based on machine learning to help the app determine which profiles may appeal to you more than others.
The algorithm tracks the profiles that you are ‘closest to’ – your friends and family whose pictures you often like and comment on, or who you talk to via direct messages. This applies to Stories as well. The people you interact with the most or whose Stories you always like to see appear first in line at the top of your screen.
Is the Algorithm for Stories the Same?
Despite their similarities, Instagram’s algorithm for Stories is different from the algorithm for your feed.
The main difference is that, with Stories, Instagram looks for “signal.” These signals are patterns of your behavior. Once it defines the signals, the algorithm adapts to your way of using this app.
If you’re curious what those signals might be, wonder no more: we’ve got the round-up right here for you to check out.
Interests
If you manually search the same profile every day, for example, it means that you are interested in it. It can be your friend, partner, crush, celebrity, or a brand you like. If you follow it for some time, Instagram will know and will try to prioritize their Stories.
Interactions
If you frequently exchange likes, comments, and direct messages with a certain person, Instagram will move this profile higher on the ‘pecking order’ of Stories. The logic is simple – you are more likely to watch a Story posted by a person that you are constantly interacting with.
Timeliness
Instagram sometimes orders the Stories from the newest to the oldest. However, an old Story posted by someone you interact with or are interested in gains priority compared to content from profiles you aren’t interested in.
Experience
You always tap the same profile’s Stories once you open the app. After a while, you will notice that it is always first on your Stories feed.
It doesn’t matter when the profile uploaded the Story – until you watch it, it will be the first in your feed. This is because Instagram relies on past experiences and tries to assume whose fresh Stories you can’t wait to see.
With these factors taken into consideration by the algorithm, Stories become more interesting. If you are seeing someone that you’re interested in regularly watching your Stories, it means that the algorithm set you up due to similar interests and online behaviors.
How Does Instagram Order Who Watches Your Stories?
As the day passes, you will see more and more people looking at your Story. Some will rise to the top and some will go down. You will often see the same people on the top of your viewer list even though there are hundreds of others watching your Stories.
Why does this happen?
It all has to do with Instagram’s algorithm.
The viewer list works similarly to the Stories feed. If you interact more with some profiles than others, they will be on the top of the list. The same applies to shared interests and experience.
If you see a profile on top of the viewer list, it means that you are interested in it and interact with it often, at least as far as the algorithm can tell. There was some talk online that seeing the same person on top of your viewer list all the time means that they are “stalking” you, but Instagram’s engineers denied this.
Facebook Connections
Since Facebook and Instagram are connected, sometimes the profiles you interact with on both social platforms will jump to the top of the viewers list.
Can You Change the Order of the Stories?
Yes, you can influence Instagram’s algorithms and change the order of Stories in your feed by behaving differently. The machine learns and adapts to your behavior, so if you don’t want some profiles to appear first on your feed, you should try interacting with them less frequently.
One of the main problems with this algorithm is that after a while it narrows the feed to just a small percent of the profiles that you interact with.
If you want to adjust the algorithm and rearrange your feed, you will have to visit other profiles, interact with other people, and engage with the content they post.
The time when the iPods were reserved only for games and music is behind us. Today, we can use iPads for work and education, and most people find them more convenient than a big laptop or a desktop computer. That’s especially true when it comes to online meetings and using apps such as Google Meet.
However, we haven’t been able to use Google Meet in a grid mode on our iPads for a long time, but it’s possible now. In this article, we’ll explain to you how to show Google Meet grid view on your iPad.
Things You’ll Need
Although this may be the fastest option available, bear in mind that it’s not a one-click operation. That’s why we suggest that you take some time and go through this process, step by step.
You’ll have to download a recently created extension, Google Meet Grid View Extension, as well as Remote Desktop Extension. Here’s what you’ll need:
Your iPad.
The Remote Desktop app installed on your iPad.
Desktop or Laptop.
Google Remote Desktop Extension on your desktop or laptop.
Google Meet account.
Google Meet Grit View Extension on your desktop and iPad.
First Steps
Since it’s not possible to use Grid view on Google Meet on your iPad, you’ll have to access your computer’s desktop from your iPad. We’re going to do that using Chrome Remote Desktop Extension.
Bear in mind that your laptop or computer has to be on all the time. Otherwise, the meeting could suddenly end. Keep both chargers for your laptop and your iPad handy.
If you haven’t used Remote Desktop before, it’s time to download it:
Also, you’ll have to download the Google Meet Grid View extension to your laptop and iPad. The extension is free, and it’s compatible with all devices.
Final Steps
Once you’ve prepared everything, it’s time to start the meeting. Again, we encourage you to try this out before the conference call. If you have an important meeting with multiple participants, you can try it out with a friend beforehand, just to make sure everything works smoothly.
Here’s what you have to do:
Connect your devices using the Remote Desktop app.
Open Google Meet on your desktop or laptop.
Start or join a meeting.
Click on Grid View sign, at the bottom of the screen.
You should now see other participants in a grid mode. If everything looks good, it’s time to switch from your desktop to your iPad and enjoy a high-quality meeting.
Google Meet Grid View Extension
Google Meet is an excellent app for conference calls and all kinds of meetings, but it lacks one thing – a grid view. Grid view is beneficial for people who work in large teams.
It’s also beneficial for teachers and students because they can see all participants. It just makes you feel as if you were all in the same classroom.
Google Meet Grid View Extension allows the users to see more than 50 participants, without losing the quality of the call.
Make sure to explore all of the options that can improve the quality of your meeting. For example, you can hide participants who have their video turned off, so their images won’t distract you. There’s also an option to highlight the person who is speaking, which makes it easier to focus and follow the meeting.
It’s Worth It!
Some people may be put off by the somewhat long installation process. However, we assure you it’s simpler than it looks, and you’d be glad you did it. In the long run, benefits are enormous as you can enjoy high-quality meetings from the comfort of your couch.
What device do you usually use for Google Meet? Do you have any other tips or tricks when it comes to this tool? Let us know in the comments section below.
Snapchat is growing, and it shows no intention of stopping. With more than three billion Snaps posted every day, getting noticed can be quite a challenge. You need to have excellent and unique content, but that’s sometimes not enough.
We have good news for you as we’ve collected five best tips to get more views on Snapchat. Celebrities and brands have used them, as well as many teenagers around the world.
Use a Snapcode
If you don’t have a Snap Code yet, it’s time to create it. Snap Code is a unique code linked to your account, and other people can use it to find you. You can set it up as your profile picture, along with your avatar. It can be much quicker to find someone via their Snap Code, instead of typing their username.
If you misspell someone’s username, you may not be able to find them on Snapchat due to an enormous number of accounts. With a Snap Code, there’s no mistake. If someone wants to follow you, all they have to do is take a screenshot of your code, and they’ll be added to your list.
But how can you reach new people with your Snap Code? There’s one trick that has helped many people. All you have to do is use your Snapchat profile picture (that contains your code) as a profile picture on other social networks, such as Instagram or TikTok.
That way, you’re reminding your followers that you have a Snapchat account as well. Also, when someone follows you on any other social network, the first thing they’ll see is a link to your Snapchat account. That’s the best way for people to find you and follow you on Snapchat.
Post Regularly
We may not know everything about Snapchat’s algorithm, but there’s one thing we know. Like most other social networks, Snapchat favors accounts of people who post often. It’s not only an excellent way to show that you’re consistent and serious about your content, but it’s also one of the best ways to get to the top of your followers’ feeds.
Snapchat Stories go in chronological order. The more Stories you post, the more users will see your story and open it. If you’re keen on growing your account, you should post regularly. Of course, you should never overdo it, or your followers may get bored. A couple of Stories a day should do the work.
However, quantity can’t always replace quality. If you don’t know what to post, don’t post random things just for the sake of posting. It’s better to take a couple of days off and figure out what kind of content you want to post and create a strategy.
Create a Routine
Many users, from comedians to educators, used this tactic. They’d say that they’re going to post valuable content every evening so that people can get used to their presence. You can do the same thing. You can challenge yourself to show up every day at 8 pm, no matter what. The goal is to make your audience get used to your content.
One good example comes from educational accounts that provide brief mini-lessons every day. That’s the best way to make people remember you, without being boring. Sooner than you think, there’ll be a lot of people waiting for your content every day.
You’ll get more views, and that’ll motivate you to post even better content and reach more people.
Create Catchy Titles
There’s something you can learn from the best bloggers and journalists. A good title is sometimes more important than the story itself. On the other hand, if you have an uninteresting title but a great story, you’ll turn off many potential readers, or in this case, followers.
Ok, but how does that apply to Snapchat? Well, when you have a series of Snaps that make a whole, the first Snap is the most important one. It can decide whether the person is going to watch the rest of your Snap or not.
Learn from journalists and start creating catchy titles. Of course, we don’t mean you should create exaggerated ones that don’t have anything to do with your content. You should instead create titles that announce your following Snaps but don’t reveal too much. Always keep your audience intrigued and wanting for more.
One of the strategies that never fail is to promise that you’re going to show them ten steps to do something. Or that you’re going to share ten things no one knows about you. That way, you’ll have their attention, and most people wouldn’t be able to resist watching your stories from the first to last.
Try Ghostcodes
If you want to reach new people, you should try Ghostcodes. It’s an online platform that allows you to present your account and discover similar Snapchat accounts. You can create a short preview explaining more about your account and the kind of content you usually post.
Profiles are divided into categories such as entertainment, fitness, travel, etc. When other users stumble upon your account, they can give you a like. The more likes you have, the higher your rank will be. It also means that more new users will be able to discover your profile.
That’s a fantastic way not only to get more views but also to grow your authority. If you want to use your Snapchat profile to become relevant in your field, this may be the way to go.
Don’t Be Shy!
Some people feel weird when they have to promote their content outside of Snapchat. There’s no reason for that. You know that your content is awesome, but if you don’t promote it, how are other people going to see it?
We hope you’ll find our ideas useful. Have you come up with some original ideas that will make you stand out from the crowd? Let us know in the comments section below.
Facebook Live is a brilliant tool that allows you to stream your videos live with little effort. Everyone uses it, from individual users to pages of large corporations. People use it for fun, marketing, and raising awareness.
But can you broadcast Facebook Live privately, to a limited group of people? Some events may not be for the entire Facebook to see, but you still may want the option of streaming it to a selected group of people.
Can You Do Facebook Live in private?
The short answer here is: yes. Not only can you choose to broadcast your live Facebook session to your Facebook friends only, but you can even exclude some of these friends from your broadcast. You can also go live on Facebook with the groups in which you’re a member or admin.
So yes, broadcasting Facebook Live to a select group of people is an option, and a very useful one, at that. Instead of broadcasting something hobby-related to all of your friends, you can do so in a hobby group. This way, you’ll get much more traction and more engagements. If you don’t care about the numbers, you can focus on the fun aspect of this experience.
How to Do Facebook Live Privately?
There are two main ways to do Facebook Live, in general. Using your Android/iOS device and using your browser. The first one is much more versatile and widely used, while the second one is much more organized. Both work in a similar way. Here’s how to start your live broadcast on Facebook to a select group of people.
Mobile
It’s as simple as opening your Facebook mobile app. In essence, a Facebook regards a Live Session as a post. So, the Live option should be right under “What’s on your mind?” on the Home page. If you can’t see it, tap What’s on your mind? That should show you the list of all the types of posts you can make on Facebook. Live video should be one of them. Tap it.
Your phone’s/tablet’s front camera should turn on. Don’t worry, as you aren’t streaming your front camera feed to the entire world yet. By default, however, Public is selected as your audience. That means that pretty much anyone will be able to see your feed once you go live. So, before tapping Start Live Video, navigate to the upper-left corner of the screen. You’ll see To: Public Post. Tap here, and a menu will open. From here, you’ll be able to select who you’re streaming to.
Browser
Broadcasting using your browser is similar. Go to your preferred browser and go to Facebook.com. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see “What’s on your mind, [your name]?” at the top of the page.
You’ll also see several options beneath this, such as Photo/Video, Tag Friends, and so on. Click the three-dots icon to the left. A list of other options should appear. To start setting up your broadcast, click Live Video. If you’re using a laptop, a screen with a camera, or a webcam, you’ll be able to see yourself. Again, don’t worry, the broadcast doesn’t start until you decide to start it.
In the left part of the screen, you’ll see Share to Your Timeline and Public. Here, you’ll be able to select your broadcast privacy options.
Selecting Your Audience
Whether you’re using a mobile device/tablet or a computer, you can select your audience. However, the setup methods differ a bit in certain respects.
You can choose whether you’ll broadcast to the public, to all your friends, to some friends, or only to yourself. You can also choose to broadcast to the groups that you’re a member or admin of, or pages that you’re running.
Broadcasting to Friends
When it comes to selecting which friends can see your Facebook Live broadcast, things are pretty much the same across the board. On your phone, once you’ve chosen To: Public Post, you are given a choice to stream to Public, your entire Friends list, all friends except the ones you select, to specific friends, or only to yourself. Select Public on the left part of the Facebook live screen to reach this list.
Broadcasting to a Group
However, this is where things diverge a bit, depending on the platform that you’re using. If you want to live stream to a group that you’re a member or an admin of on your phone, you’ll use the same To: Public Post option, mentioned above. To do this in the browser, select Share to Your Timeline and then click Share in a Group. In the next screen, use the dropdown menu under Share in a Group to choose the group.
Broadcasting to Your Page
Now, when it comes to broadcasting to a page that you manage, things depend on the platform you’re using. Within a browser, select Share to a Page you Manage after clicking Share to Your Timeline. Then, select one of the pages that you manage.
However, there is no page broadcasting option on Facebook for Mobile because you can’t manage your pages via the Facebook app. Instead, you’re going to have to use the Facebook Page app. Fortunately, the Facebook Live option on Facebook Page works in an almost identical manner as with the regular Facebook app.
Broadcasting to a Select Group of People
Using Facebook Live is simple across the board. You might encounter minor inconveniences on your phone, due to the lack of option of broadcasting to your pages. If you’ve ever used Facebook Page or Facebook for Mobile, this shouldn’t be an issue, though. So, yes, you can broadcast Facebook Live both privately and to a select group of people.
Have you managed to broadcast Facebook Live to a group of people that you wanted to? Which type of Facebook Live broadcast do you use and prefer? Join in on the discussion in the comment section below and don’t refrain from asking any questions or adding a few tips.
Screencastify is one of the most popular and convenient tools when it comes to screen capturing. Screencasting is often needed promptly, and in that department, Screencastify is more than a competent tool. Video casting is always a couple of clicks away with this app.
That said, this app is sometimes prone to issues. Even the tech-savvy may miss what’s causing the popular browser extension to malfunction.
Here’s how to solve your problem(s) and get Screencastify to work again.
Enable the Right Microphone
The case may well be that you’ve enabled the wrong microphone. If you’re using a laptop without any external mics or headphones, you can skip this potential solution.
However, if you are using a microphone or an external tool that might have an integrated mic, the problem may be that you’ve selected the wrong one.
Before starting your recording session, navigate to the Screencastify extension in Chrome. Then, enable the microphone by checking the box net to the Microphone entry. If this solves the issue, you can stop right here.
However, the chances are that the wrong microphone is selected by default. To change this setting, select the dropdown menu that has appeared when you’ve checked the Microphone box. When you’ve chosen the mic that you want to use, you’ll see the bar next to the mic icon light up as you speak.
Can Chrome Detect Your Microphone?
Unfortunately, some users are experiencing issues with their Screencastify extension even after enabling the right microphone. The case may be that Google Chrome is unable to detect your microphone.
The case may be that the very Chrome browser that you’re using has a conflict with your microphone. To check whether this is the case, go here and see if any sound is detected. If the website picks up your sound, both Chrome and your microphone are working correctly. If this is the case, the best way to go would be reinstalling your Screencastify extension. More on this later.
If the website mentioned above didn’t detect any sound, the problem probably lies with the lack of proper communication between your Chrome browser and your microphone.
The first step here would be restarting your Chrome browser. If the problem persists, click on the three dots icon in the upper-right corner of your browser and click it. From the dropdown menu, select Settings. Go to the bottom of the Settings tab. Under the On startup title, select Open the New Tab page if not selected. Shut the browser down and start it back up again.
If the problem persists, try restarting your computer. If none of these solutions work, you’re probably going to have to reinstall the extension.
Check Your Computer’s Sound Settings
The issues that you’re experiencing with Screencastify may not be Chrome- or Screencastify-related. Your computer’s sound settings may be the culprit here. You need to make sure that your mic is enabled and unmuted.
To check whether everything is working correctly, right-click the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select Open Sound Settings. Then, under Input, you’ll be able to choose your preferred device and test it.
If your microphone isn’t responding, your problem will require technical support from either your OS provider or your computer manufacturer.
Reinstall Screencastify
You can reinstall Screencastify manually. To uninstall the extension, go to its page in Google Web Store. Next to the extension title, you’ll find a Remove from Chrome icon. Click it.
Alternatively, right-click anywhere on the extensions bar (located to the right of your address bar). Then, select Manage extensions from the dropdown menu. Scroll until you’ve found Screencastify or find it using the magnifying glass icon on this page. Then, select Remove. Confirm by clicking Remove again. It will take you to Screencastify’s 30 Second Uninstall Survey page. You can close this tab if you’re going to install it again.
Now, install the app once more. Finding it on Google Web Store is probably the most straightforward way to install Chrome extensions.
After you’ve successfully installed Screencastify and enabled the microphone, you should be able to hear audio and use the app to its full extent.
Other Issues
Audio problems are the most prevalent when it comes to Screencastify. However, other common issues may prevent you from using the extension correctly. Here are some.
Low Disk Space
Screencastify saves the videos that you make on your computer before uploading them to Google Drive. The extension requires a minimum of 1 GB of disk space to work. In case your video goes overboard, the recording will stop, resulting in the “Low Disk Space” notification. You can turn off this feature, but this may cause system issues with your device. Freeing up some disk space is the best way to go here.
Failed to Start Recording
This error occurs when Screencastify can’t start. Something may be blocking the app, and in this case, you need to enable access to your microphone and camera on your device. Restart your computer and try using Screencastify again.
Can’t Sign In
You may experience issues signing in to your account on Screencastify. That might be because you haven’t enabled third-party cookies. To fix this issue, go to the Chrome menu, navigate to Settings, scroll down until you see Advanced, and click it. Navigate to Privacy and then to Content Settings. Click Cookies and turn off the Block third-party cookies setting.
Screencastify Problems
Microphone issues are the most common ones with Screencastify. However, many other problems may prevent you from using the extension. Hopefully, you’ve found a solution in this article.
Have you managed to fix Screencastify? What was causing the issue? Feel free to hit the comment section below and share your thoughts and experiences, as well as any questions and tips that you may have.
Facebook is all about making friends. Back in MySpace days, people would display their friends on their profiles, almost as trophies. This day and age, however, things are a bit different. In addition to the growing privacy concerns, there’s also the good-old matter of keeping your stuff to yourself.
By default, Facebook makes it available for everyone to see your entire list of friends. But how can you restrict the list to a smaller audience? Here’s how to make your friends list on Facebook private, as well as some other useful friends-making tips.
How to Make Your Friends List Private
Configuring who can see your friends list on Facebook is relatively simple, but it does take some digging around. It’s not as simple as going to your friends’ list and making the tweaks there. You’re going to have to mess around with privacy settings.
You can control who sees your friends list from your phone/tablet, as well as from the browser version of Facebook. Let’s start with the browser option.
Controlling Friends List Privacy via Browser
To hide your friends’ list using your computer, open your preferred browser, and log in to your Facebook account. Now, navigate to the upper-right part of the screen. Here, you’ll see an arrow pointing downward. Click it, and a dropdown menu will appear. From this menu, select Settings.
In the next screen, you’ll see a pane with various links on the left-hand screen side. In this pane, select Privacy. On the Privacy page, you’ll see the How People Find and Contact You section. Here, select Who can see your friends list? Click this entry. After a body of text, you’ll see the Public option (default). Click here, and you’ll see a dropdown list appear.
You have a few options here. If you select Friends, only your friends will be able to see your friends list. If you choose Friends except…, you’ll be prompted to choose which friends you don’t want to see your friends list. Selecting Specific friends will allow you to pick friends that you want to give access to your friends’ list. Selecting Only me will prevent all Facebook users from seeing your friends list.
You can also select Custom for more advanced settings. In the Share with section, you’ll get to allow Friends, Friends of friends, and individual friends. In the Don’t share with section, you can enter the names of people who you want to prevent from seeing your friends list.
Controlling Friends List Privacy via Mobile App
If you want to set things up using your phone or tablet, you’re going to need the Facebook for Mobile app. Start the app and tap the “hamburger menu.” In the next screen, navigate to Settings & Privacy. Under Settings & Privacy, select Settings.
Then, scroll down to and tap Privacy Settings under the Privacy section. Then, go to the How People Can Find and Contact You section, followed by Who can see your friends list? Here, you’ll get similar options to when accessing via desktop. The Public, Friends, Friends except…, Specific friends, and Only me options are all present here. Unfortunately, the Custom option isn’t available.
Ways Around Private Friends List
You should keep in mind that people may still be able to see if you’re friends with someone, even if you’ve selected Only me in the privacy settings. If your friend’s friends list is Public, anyone would be able to go to their profile and find your profile on the list.
If they can see that you’re friends with someone via their profile, they can also access this information from the News Feed, as well as Search, and many other options on Facebook. Yes, this includes the Mutual friends view.
Using Audience Selector for Posts
In addition to making your friends list private, you can set the audience for each post. Whether you’re using a desktop browser or a mobile Facebook app, you can always select the audience for your posts before posting. To do this, simply click or tap Public in the post sharing screen and choose who sees the post in question.
However, you may want to change the audience of a post or posts that you’ve previously shared on Facebook. That’s also possible. First, find your post on your timeline. You’ll find the privacy settings for your posts next to the date and time of posting. You can also find them in the three-dots menu for each one. From here, you’ll be able to let or restrict certain people from seeing it.
Facebook Live Privacy
Naturally, you may want to restrict your audience when doing Facebook Live. That’s also very simple to pull off. You can do live videos on Facebook for everyone or select people. You can even do Facebook Live only for yourself. You can also stream live on pages that you manage, as well as on groups that you’re a member of.
The rules are simple. You can access these options on the Facebook Live screen that you’re using. It’s all pretty intuitive, and you shouldn’t have issues picking your perfect privacy settings for Facebook Live. Keep in mind, though, that streaming live to a Facebook page that you manage can’t be done from the Facebook for Mobile app. You’re going to have to use the Facebook Page app.
Making Friends Lists Private on Facebook
Facebook privacy settings are pretty much ubiquitous. However, accessing the friends lists privacy settings may not be as apparent and obvious as it could’ve been. Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful, and you’ve set friends list privacy the way it suits you.
Have you made the necessary tweaks to your friends’ list on Facebook? What settings have you used? Do you have any other tips for other Facebook users who are reading this? Feel free to hit the comment section below with any advice, suggestions, or questions.
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Are you wanting to boost your reach and increase the number of leads in your marketing funnel? Why not check out Instagram? Here's how to leverage Instagram stats in 2020.
Learn when systematic sampling is better than simple random sampling, such as in the absence of data patterns and when there is low risk of data manipulation.
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BMC Recruitment 2020: Apply for 65 Driver Posts in Maharashtra @ www.portal.mcgm.gov.in!! The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has released their MCGM Notification. This was done to announce 65 vacancies in the organization. This BMC Vacancy is for Driver Posts. The officials are inviting qualified candidates to fill up these posts. The candidates can either apply online via email or offline via post for this MCGM Recruitment. Aspirants can start to apply at the earliest. The last date to apply for BMC Recruitment is 28th April 2020. Interested candidates can check all the details given below and apply as per their convenience.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Recruitment 2020-21
Interested candidates are advised to read all the details given in the sections below. Here you will get the complete details of the BMC jobs. You can also refer to the BMC Notification for more details. Once you have confirmed you are eligible for this post, you can proceed to apply. Application details and MCGM Application process has been given below. It is recommended that the candidates apply for these MCGM Jobs at the earliest. To know more about about the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, click on the website link below or visit the official website @ www.portal.mcgm.gov.in.
Overview of MCGM Jobs 2020 | BMC Vacancy 2020
Name of the Organization
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai OR Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
Number of Vacancies
65
Name of Post
Driver
Starting date of application
Started
Closing date of application
28th April 2020
Job Category
Maharashtra Government Jobs
Job Location
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Application process
Online (EMail) or Offline (Post)
Official Website
www.portal.mcgm.gov.in
Details of BMC Vacancy 2020-21:
The details of the vacancy as given in the BMC Recruitment 2020 is as below
Name of the Post
Number of Posts
Driver
65
Total
65
Eligibility Criteria for BMC Recruitment 2020
Candidates interested in BMC Jobs can check their eligibility with the details below to apply. Candidates must have completed their 10th/ 12th class and be below the age of 38 years to be eligible for MCGM Careers. If selected, the candidates will be offered Rs. 20,700/- to Rs. 65,800/- as monthly salary. Get the complete details below.
Academic Qualification:
Candidates must have completed their 10th/ 12th class and have a valid driving license for heavy vehicles
Read the official notification for more details on BMC Careers.
Age Limit:
Maximum Age – 38 Years
For age limit as given in the BMC Recruitment 2020, refer to the official notification
Selection Process:
Written Test
Interview
Document Verification
Pay Scale for BMC Recruitment 2020:
Selected candidates will be paid Rs. 20,700/- to Rs. 65,800/- per month
Refer to the official website for details on the pay scale for BMC Jobs
BMC Online Application Fee:
Candidates may read the official notification to get more details on BMC online application fees
How to apply for BMC Recruitment 2020?
Download the notification from below
Read the details and check if you are eligible for the posts
If eligible, download the application form from the notification
Fill in all the details and make sure to attach photograph, signature and other documents
Scanned copy of the application form should be sent via email or softcopy should be sent via post
Email ID:
mcgm.driver@mcgm.gov.in
Postal Address:
1st Floor, New Store Building, Dr E Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai – 400018 India
Address:
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Comprehensive Thalassemia Care, PHO and BMT Centre, Opp Kanakia Exotica, CCI Compound, Borivali (East) Mumbai-400012
The Brihanmumbai Municipal (BMC) Corporation otherwise called Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) (in the past the Bombay Municipal Corporation and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay (MCGB) till 1996) is the administering metro group of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. It is India's most extravagant metropolitan corporation. The MCGM's yearly spending plan surpasses that of a portion of India's littler states. It was set up under the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act 1888. MCGM is answerable for the urban framework and organization of the city and a few rural areas. In 2014, Trishna Vishwasrao turned into the primary female corporator to fill in as its leader.
The MCGM is going by an IAS official who fills in as Municipal Commissioner, employing official power. A quinquennial political race is held to choose corporators, who are answerable for essential municipal foundation and implementing obligation. The Mayor, more often than not from the lion's share party, fills in as leader of the house. As of June 2008, all managerial business in the MCGM was directed in Marathi, a choice that started the controversy, following which the BMC facilitated it's position and started tolerating structures in English. Starting in 2017, the MCGM's governing body, otherwise called the Corporation Council, comprised of 227 individuals. 2017 was the first run through 31 up-and-comers challenged from a solitary ward (164). Raghvendra Singh was the most youthful free up-and-comer at age 21.MCGM is one of the most extravagant metropolitan companies in Asia
SHS Bihar Result | Download All-State Healthy Society Result @statehealthsocietybihar.org – Are you completed SHS Bihar Exam and looking for the State Healthy Society Result then you are landed on the right page. Yes, by reading this full article the applicants will come to know the complete details of SHS Bihar Result, Cut-Off Marks & Merit List for the various SHS Bihar Board exams. Here we will be updating all latest SHS Bihar Result with the direct links.
SHS Bihar Lab Technician & Other Result 2020
The candidates who have completed the SHS ANM, Lab Technician & Other Posts Exam for the 959 vacancies can get their SHS Bihar Exam Result here. Therefore the board has planned to release the State Healthy Society Result in May 2020. The candidates who have completed the exam can only eligible to download the SHS Bihar Exam result from the given links. In this same page, the Cut-Off & Merit list details will be updated when it has released on the official site.
Description
Details
Organization Name
State Health Society Bihar
Post Name
ANM, Lab Technician, Community Nurse Case Manager (NMHP), Dental Technician, Audiologist & Speech therapist, Optometrist, DEIC Manager CumCoordinator-RBSK, Physiotherapist, District Epidemiologists, Early Interventionist cum Special Educator, Regional Nursing Consultant (RPMU), Psychiatric Nurse(NMHP), Bio-Medical Engineer (RPMU), Regional Program Manager (RPMU), REGIONAL M&E OFFICER (RPMU),
The applicants need to score the good marks in the SHS Bihar exam It will support the applicant to gain the cut-off marks. Because Cut-off is playing a vital role during the time of selection. The State Health Society Bihar Board will only release the SHS Bihar Cut-Off Marks on their official website after the exam result and we will update direct link of those on our same page. The Cut-Off Marks has decided based on the below-provided factor
Category (General, OBC, S, ST),
The number of aspirants attended the written test
And then, the number of vacancies available
The difficulty level of the question paper
Analysis based on the previous year cut off marks
SHS Bihar Merit List 2020
The Board will declare the shortlisted candidate’s names in the SHS Merit List after the result. Therefore the SHS Merit List contains the list of names who had scored good marks in the written exam. Moreover, candidates can check the SHS Bihar Merit List 2020 from the official website @ statehealthsocietybihar.org. Besides, we will update the link to check the SHS Bihar Merit List when it has updated on the official website.
Steps to Download State Healthy Society result in 2020
The below-given step by step guide helps the applicants to get their result from the official website easily. Normally the board will declare the result in PDF & Link format. If the result has released on the link by clicking the respective link candidates can view their State Healthy Society result. If the format is link candidates must provide the required login details by following the below-given procedure
Click the link from the below-given table.
From the official website find the notification tab
Find the result with respective post name
Click & Enter the required details appeared on the screen
Log in to the official website
The result will appear on the screen
Take necessary printouts for further reference
Direct link to Download Maharashtra GDS Result 2020
The below-given links are important to check State Healthy Society result. It will get activated only when the board has released the result on the official website. The Cut-Off, Merit List will get updated on the same page when it is released on the official site.
CLAT Syllabus 2020 is given below for free download. Check the CLAT Syllabus available on our website for download. Find the details like Educational Qualification, Selection process, etc. at the official website @ www.consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Here is good news related to the CLAT Exam Syllabus and exam pattern for all the aspirants. We have gathered some latest updates of the CLAT Exam recruitment and Exam Pattern for the candidates who have applied for the posts and are searching for the CLAT Previous Papers. The Selection of candidates will be made based on their performance in the Written exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities Officials. People can also get the CLAT’s Previous Papers direct link on this page. You can also find the CLAT Admit card on our website.
Common Law Admission Test Syllabus 2020
Candidates who are going to attend this CLAT exam are advised to check and download the Official recruitment notification at the official website to verify the details like educational qualification, Age limit, and Selection Process, etc. The official Common Law Admission Test direct link will be updated on this page for the guidance of candidates. Click on the link we have provided and download the Official recruitment Notification. The officials of the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLU’s) will conduct the exam to provide admission in BA LLB, BSc LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, BSW LLB and LLM Courses.
The number of questions to come down to 120-150 from 200.
The reason cited for a reduction in the number is "asking students to answer 200 questions in 120 minutes is not right as it puts students under a lot of mental stress" as per Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR.
Comprehension-based questions to be asked from Quantitative Techniques, English, Current Affairs, Deductive Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning.
The changes in exam pattern are also made with a view to attracting students with better competence in reading texts and who have demonstrated skills in inferential reasoning.
Common Law Admission Test CLAT Exam Pattern
The exam Pattern may help the candidate at the time of preparation. So all the candidates who are ready to join for BTech courses. They can also check the CLAT Notification for more details. The application details have been given. The CLAT exam will be conducted in 2 parts. The CLAT UG Exam and CLAT PG Exam. The subjects that the candidates have to prepare for for CLAT UG Exam are English including comprehension, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Legal Aptitude, Logical reasoning. There will be 200 questions for 200 marks each. The CLAT UG Exam will be conducted for 2 Hours. The subjects in the CLAT PG Exam are Constitutional Law, Other Law Subjects including Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence. This exam will be for 100 marks. All the questions will be of objective type (Multiple Choice Question). 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. The CLAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern have been provided on this page. Meanwhile, the applied candidates need to follow the Test Pattern and Syllabus we update on this page.
Common-Law Admission Test Pattern 2020 | UG, PG
CLAT UG Exam Pattern
Name of the Subject
Marks
Time Duration
English including comprehension
40
2 Hours
General Knowledge and Current Affairs
50
Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability)
20
Legal Aptitude
50
Logical Reasoning
40
Total
200 Marks
CLAT UG Exam Pattern
Name of the Subject
No of Questions
Marks
Constitutional Law
40
40
Other Law Subjects including Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence
60
60
Total
100
100
Download CLAT Syllabus 2020
The CLAT Syllabus is the major part of the test preparation. Candidates can guess the Topics covered in the written exam with the help of Syllabus. You can also download the CLAT Syllabus PDF from the link below.
English Including Comprehension: The English section will test the candidate's proficiency in English based on comprehension passages and grammar. In the comprehension section, candidates will be assessed on their understanding of the passage and its central theme, meanings of words used therein, etc. The grammar section requires the correction of incorrect grammatical sentences, filling of blanks in sentences with appropriate words, etc.
General Knowledge and Current Affairs: The General knowledge will be evaluated on the general awareness including static general knowledge. Questions on current affairs will test the candidates ' on their knowledge of national and international current affairs.
Mathematics: This section will test the candidate's knowledge of elementary mathematics, i.e., maths taught up to 10th Class/ Standard.
Legal Aptitude: This section will test the candidate's interest in the study of law, research aptitude and problem-solving ability. Questions may include legal propositions (described in the paper), and a set of facts to which the said proposition has to be applied. Some propositions may not be "true" in the real sense, candidates will have to assume the "truth" of these propositions and answer the questions accordingly.
Logical Reasoning: The purpose of the logical reasoning section is to test the candidate's ability to identify patterns, logical links and rectify illogical arguments. It may include a variety of logical reasoning questions such as syllogisms, logical sequences, analogies, etc. However, visual reasoning will not be tested.
Assam TET Previous Papers is here for candidates to download for free. Candidates who are interested in the Assam TET previous papers can find it in the pdf format here. Download the sample papers here for free. You can also get preparation tips and syllabus here along with the Assam TET Model Papers. You can get all the details about the Assam TET Sample Papers before you start to prepare for the exam.
Assam TET Previous Papers with Answers Pdf
Download the Assam TET Teachers Old Question papers pdf from our site. We have provided the Assam TET sample question papers in the Pdf format. The applicants can download the Assam TET Exam previous papers quickly here. All you have to do is click on the links given below to get the Assam TET Sample Papers pdf. You can also check the exam pattern and Assam TET syllabus given below. We have provided the previous papers below subject wise. Check these previous papers to prepare well for the Assam TET Exam.
Assam TET Model Papers Pdf
Interested candidates who have applied for Assam TET exam can find all the model question papers provided here. Check them and download them for free for Assam TET exam 2020. This will help you to prepare well for the exam and score good marks. We have provided a list of previous year question papers for you to start practising. It will also help you to understand the structure of the exam, all the important topics, types of questions asked and other details that are important from the ATET exam point of view. For more details, read the sections in this article. You can also visit the official portal of the Assam Teachers Eligibility Test for more details.
Assam Teacher Eligibility Test Practice Papers – Details
Description
Details
Organization Name
Government of Assam, Elementary Education, Axom Sarba Shiksha Abhiyan Mission
Posts Name
Assam Teacher Eligibility Test
Category
Previous Papers
Job Location
Assam
Official website
ssa.assam.gov.in
Selection Process:
Written Exam
Interview
Assam TET Exam Pattern 2020
The entire details of the Assam TET exam 2020 is given under this topic. It includes all the details that the candidates need to know.
Assam TET Exam Pattern
The Assam TET exam pattern is given in detail below. The exam consists of two papers. Paper I is for the primary class teacher (Class I to V). And Paper II is for the upper primary class (Class VI to VIII). The Assam TET Exam will be held for 2 hours and 30 minutes. It will contain 150 questions for 1 marks each. The total marks for this exam will be 150 marks. Check the details below for more detailed information. The direct links for Assam TET sample papers are given for you to download for free and prepare well. Practice well for these exams to score well in the exam.
Assam TET Exam Pattern 2020
Paper I:
Subject Name
Questions
Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy (Compulsory)
30
30
Language I: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Bodo, Manipuri, Garo, Nepali, Karbi, Hmar (Compulsory – Any One)
30
30
Language II: English (Compulsory)
30
30
Mathematics
30
30
Environmental Studies
30
30
Total
150 Questions
150 Marks
Paper-II:
Subject Name
Questions
Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy (Compulsory)
30
30
Language I: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Bodo, Manipuri, Garo, Nepali, Karbi, Hmar (Compulsory – Any One)
30
30
Language II: English (Compulsory)
30
30
Mathematics & Science for Mathematics & Science Teacher Social Studies for Social Studies Teacher Either a or b for other Teachers
60
60
Total
150 Questions
150 Marks
Download Assam TET Previous Year Question Papers Pdf
Here we have provided the ATET Previous Papers for candidates who want to prepare for the exam. By preparing well you can secure very good marks in the exam. You can find the direct link here to download the Assam TET model papers. These papers are as per the exam pattern making it easier for candidates to prepare. Download the part wise old question papers of Assam TET exam below.
Subject Name
Previous Papers
Assam TET Child Development & Pedagogy Previous Question Papers
Candidates, please remember that the papers that are given above for Assam TET are Previous Papers/ sample papers only. They are only for reference use. All interested candidates can download the subject wise exam papers for free. Prepare well for the exams by practising these papers and referring to the Assam TET Syllabus also. This will help you score better marks in the exam.
Bihar STET Syllabus Pdf for Secondary Teachers Eligibility test is available here to download for free of cost. Applicants who have applied for the Bihar STET Recruitment exam 2020 and searching for Bihar STET Syllabus & exam pattern can get all relevant details on this page. However, for further details check the below sections of the article regarding the Bihar STET Exam Detailed Syllabus and prepare for the exam accordingly.
Bihar STET Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Candidates applying for the Bihar Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test can get the complete syllabus details here along with the exam pattern. In order to prepare well for the examination, aspirants need to stay updated with every information related to the examination like Exam Dates, Exam Timings, Bihar STET Syllabus 2020, Exam Pattern, etc. which you can find here in detail.
Every year the Government of Bihar conducts the Bihar STET Exam. In this notification, aspirants can get all the relevant details like Bihar STET Exam Pattern 2020, Bihar STET Exam Syllabus 2020 and other details. The Bihar Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test Syllabus is available for download from the link given below. Candidates who have applied for Bihar STET Posts will be searching for Bihar STET Syllabus & Exam Pattern. Hence we presented the complete details regarding the exam syllabus and pattern here.
The officials of the Government of Bihar will conduct the Bihar STET Exam. The exam consists of two papers. Paper I is for the class IX and class X. This paper will have questions related to the specific subject, teaching techniques, general knowledge and Computer Science. There will be a total of 150 questions for 150 marks in total. And Paper II is for the class XI and class XII The subjects asked in this paper will be related to General Knowledge and the specific subject. There will be 100 questions for 100 marks in total. The exam (both papers) will be held for 2 hours and 30 minutes. There will be no negative marking for the Bihar STET Exam. Check the details in the table below to get the complete Bihar STET Exam pattern details
Bihar STET Exam Pattern – Paper I
Name of the Section
No. of Questions
Total Marks
Specified Subject
100
100
Teaching Techniques and other Eligibility ( Reasoning) or GK and other Eligibility ( for Computer Science)
50
50
Total
150 Questions
150 Marks
Bihar STET Exam Pattern – Paper II
Name of the Section
No. of Questions
Total Marks
General Knowledge
50
50
Specified Subject
50
50
Total
100 Questions
100 Marks
Bihar STET Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for Bihar STET Exam has been given below. The subject wise details for this Assan TET exam. Check the details below. Here you will get the details of the subjects and subtopics to prepare for. So check all the details below and start preparing for the same. You can also get the details of the syllabus pdf below.
रचनाकार/ रचनाएँ विषयवस्तु, चरित्र-चित्रण, भाषा शैलीआदि |
साहित्यिक विधाएँ और उनकी विशेषताएँ
भाषा तत्त्व और व्याकरण (i) शब्द विचार : उपसर्ग- प्रत्यय (ii) शब्द भेद (iii) लिंग, वचन, कारक, काल (iv) शब्द रूपान्तर (v) शब्द- अर्थ, भिन्न- भिन्न अर्थ, पर्यावाची शब्द और विलोम शब्द (vi) शब्द परिचय- तत्सम, तदभव, देशज और विदेशी (vii) वाक्य संरचना, भेद (viii) वाच्य- समास (ix) मुहावरे- लोक्पतियाँ, कहावतें
भाषा- अर्थ और स्वरुप माध्यमिक स्तर पर हिन्दी शिक्षण के उद्देश्य भाषा की समस्या- त्रिभाषा- सूत्र
आदर्श हिन्दी- अध्यापक के गुण अच्छे शिक्षण की विशेषताएँ भाषा: शिक्षण की सामान्य सिद्धान्त, सूत्र, प्रणालियाँ और विधियाँ
शिक्षण में भाषा- कौशलों का महत्व भाषा कौशलों का विकास सुनना : ध्वनि की उत्पत्ति, ध्वनि- श्रवन और पारस्परिक संबंध बोलना : सब्दोच्चारण, वकयंत्र, शुध्दोचारण का अभ्यास, मौखिक अभिव्यक्ति, पाठशाला में वार्तालाप का अभ्यास पढना : विशेषताएँ, वाचन के प्रकार, वाचन संबंधी दोष और उपचार लिखना : महत्व, नियम, विधियाँ, प्रकार, अक्षरक्रियास भाषा- कौशलों का समन्वय
शिक्षण उद्देष्यों का वर्गीकरण न्यूनतम अधिगम- स्तर पाठ – योजना (गद्य, पद्य, व्याकरण, रचना, पत्र-लेखन) इकाई – योजना शिक्षण – उपकरण
पाठ्यक्रम पाठ्यपुस्तक पुस्तकालय भाषा सहगामी क्रियाएँ
मुल्याकान की धारणा उत्तम परीक्षा की विशेषताएँ उपलब्ध परीक्षा निरंतर समग्र मुल्यांकन उद्देश्य आधारित मुल्यांकन उपचारात्मक और निदंतामक शिक्षण
Bihar STET English Syllabus
Parts of Speech
Tenses
Active Voice and Passive Voice
Preposition and Articles
Degrees of Comparison
Clauses
Verbs – Main Verbs – Auxiliary Verbs – Phrasal Verbs
Types of Sentences – Simple, Compound and Complex – Synthesis of Sentences
Phrases – Use of phrases
Composition – Letter Writing, Precis Writing
Aspects of English: (a) English language – history, nature, importance, principles of English as second language (b) Problems of teaching/ learning English
Objectives of teaching English
Development of Language Skills: (a)Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (LSRW) (b) Communication Skills- Imparting values through communication
Approaches, methods, techniques of teaching English: (a) Introduction, definition and types of approaches, methods and techniques of teaching English (b) Remedial teaching
Teaching learning materials in English
Lesson Planning
Curriculum & Textbooks – Importance and its need
Evaluation in English language
Bihar STET Mathematics Syllabus
Number System
Fractions
Arithmetic
Geometry
Measurements
Data Applications
Algebra
Meaning and nature of mathematics
Correlation with other school subjects and daily life
Aims, values and instructional objectives of teaching mathematics
Child centered and activity based approaches in teaching mathematics
Methods of teaching and remedial measures in mathematics
Instructional material, TLM and resource utilisation in mathematics
Curriculum, textbook and instructional planning
Evaluation, tools of evaluation, continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE)
Bihar STET Exam Science Syllabus
Natural Resources- Air & Water
Our Universe
Biology
Living World
Plant World
Animal World
Microbes
Our Environment
Natural Phenomenon
Mechanics: kinematics, dynamics
Magnetism and Electricity
Matter Around Us
Laws of Chemical Combination and Chemical Calculations
Atomic Structure
Periodic classification and chemical bonding
Metallurgy
Recent trends in biology
Bihar STET Syllabus for Social Science
Geography
History
Economics
Political Science
Bihar STET Physics Exam Syllabus
Mathematical Methods
Classical Mechanics
Relativity
Atomic
Molecular Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Thermodynamics
Statistical Mechanics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Quantum Theory and its Applications
Electromagnetic Theory
Electronics
Experimental Physics
Bihar Secondary TET Chemistry Syllabus
General Chemistry
Structure of Atom
Electrochemistry
Periodicity
Solid State
Solutions
Classification of Elements
Molecular Structure
Chemical Bonding
Surface Chemistry
Redox Reactions
Chemical Kinetics
States of Matter
Equilibrium
Thermodynamics
Processes of Isolation of Elements
Coordination Compounds
P, D, F Block Elements
Hydrogen
D Block Elements
Alkali and Alkaline earth metals (S Block)
Haloarenes
Alcohols
Haloalkanes
Aldehydes
Phenols
Ketones
Ethers
General Organic Chemistry
Carboxylic Acids
Biomolecules
Hydrocarbons
Environmental Chemistry
Amines
Chemistry in Everyday Life
The Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test syllabus pdf is available here. So the candidates who applied for the Teacher jobs can check the Bihar TET Syllabus along with the exam pattern for preparation. Also, refer to the official website of the Bihar School Education Board i.e. bihartet.co.in for more details of TET syllabus & Exam Pattern.
Bihar TET Syllabus 2019 is available. Recently, Bihar had released Teacher Eligibility Test notification for teacher posts. Candidates who have applied for TET Bihar primary and upper-class teacher posts are looking for Bihar TET exam syllabus. We are providing a piece of information about Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test Syllabus, exam pattern, Results in our website. Candidates can also visit our website to get the latest information regarding Bihar TET Exam at any time.
The Bihar School Education Board is simply called as BSEB. It is located at Patna. It is a State Governmental Board of Education. Teacher Eligibility Test is abbreviated as TET. TET is an Indian entrance exam for teacher posts in India. TET is compulsory to get a teaching job in government schools from class 1 to 8. TET exam contains paper 1 and paper 2. Paper 1 for primary classes 1 to 5 and Paper 2 is for upper primary class 6 to 8. The Board conducts secondary and senior secondary school examinations twice a year. The board also invites notification for Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test every year. Recently BSEB had released TET notification for the year 2019. Candidates who applied for Bihar TET exam 2019 can get Bihar TET Syllabus from our website.
Bihar TET Exam Pattern 2019-20
Bihar TET Paper I (For Teachers Upto Class 4)
Subject Name
No of Questions
Marks Allotted
Child development and Pedagogy
30
30
Mathematics
30
30
Language 1
30
30
Language 2
30
30
Environmental Studies
30
30
Total Duration – 2 hours 30 minutes
A candidate has to choose two languages for Language I and language II papers.
Th languages are as follows: Hindi / Urdu / Bangla / Maithili / Bhojpuri / Sanskrit / Arabic / Persian / English.
One cannot choose the same language for both the language papers.
Bihar TET Paper-II (For Teachers Upto Class 8)
Subject Name
No of Questions
Marks Allotted
Child development and Pedagogy
30
30
Language 1
30
30
Language 2
30
30
Science and Mathematics/ Social Science
60
60
Total Duration – 2 hours 30 minutes
A candidate has to choose two languages for Language I and language II papers.
Following languages are Hindi / Urdu / Bangla / Maithili / Bhojpuri / Sanskrit / Arabic / Persian / English .
One cannot choose the same language for both the language papers.
Candidates aspiring to apply for Mathematics and Science teacher have to appear for Maths+Science papers.
Candidates appearing for teaching positions other than Maths or social studies may appear for either paper A or B.
Updated Bihar TET Syllabus 2019 Pdf
Child Development and Pedagogy
The concept of Development and its relationship with learning
Principles of Child Development and Stages (6-11 years)
Multidimensional Intelligence
Child-centered and progressive education
Influence of Genetics and the Environment
Process of socialization
Individual variation
Creativity
Language and Thought
Continuous comprehensive evaluation
The teaching of Special Needs Children – 5 questions
Physically Disabled, Learning Disabled
Visually impaired, hearing-impaired, reading-disrupted, talented children
Learning & Education Science- 10 questions
How do babies think and learn?
Why and how do children fail in school achievement?
Basic Learning Teaching Processes
Learning how to have a social activity?
The child is a problem solver and a scientific investigator.
Assam TET Syllabus Pdf for Elementary Education, Axom Sarba Shiksha Abhiyan Mission are available here to download for free of cost. Applicants who have applied for the Assam TET Recruitment exam 2020 and searching for Assam TET Syllabus & exam pattern can get all relevant details on this page. However, for further details check the below sections of the article regarding the Assam TET Exam Detailed Syllabus and prepare for the exam accordingly.
Assam TET Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Candidates applying for the Assam Teacher Eligibility Test can get the complete syllabus details here along with the exam pattern. In order to prepare well for the examination, aspirants need to stay updated with every information related to the examination like Exam Dates, Exam Timings, Assam TET Syllabus 2020, Exam Pattern, etc. which you can find here in detail.
Every year the Government of Assam conducts the Assam TET Exam. In this notification, aspirants can get all the relevant details like Assam TET Exam Pattern 2020, Assam TET Exam Syllabus 2020 and other details. The Assam Teacher Eligibility Test Syllabus is available for download from the link given below. Candidates who have applied for Assam TET Posts will be searching for Assam TET Syllabus & Exam Pattern. Hence we presented the complete details regarding the exam syllabus and pattern here.
Assam TET Syllabus 2020 – www.hssa.assam.gov.in
Description
Details
Name of the Organization
Government of Assam, Elementary Education, Axom Sarba Shiksha Abhiyan Mission
The officials of the Government of Assam will conduct the Assam TET Exam. The exam consists of two papers. Paper I is for the primary class teacher (Class I to V). And Paper II is for the upper primary class (Class VI to VIII). The Assam TET Exam will be held for 2 hours and 30 minutes. It will contain 150 questions for 1 marks each. The total marks for this exam will be 150 marks. Check the details in the table below to get the complete Assam TET Exam pattern details
Assam TET Exam Pattern – Paper I
Name of the Section
No. of Questions
Total Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy (Compulsory)
30
30
Language I: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Bodo, Manipuri, Garo, Nepali, Karbi, Hmar (Compulsory – Any One)
30
30
Language II: English (Compulsory)
30
30
Mathematics
30
30
Environmental Studies
30
30
Total
150 Questions
150 Marks
Assam TET Exam Pattern – Paper II
Name of the Section
No. of Questions
Total Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy (Compulsory)
30
30
Language I: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Bodo, Manipuri, Garo, Nepali, Karbi, Hmar (Compulsory – Any One)
30
30
Language II: English (Compulsory)
30
30
Mathematics & Science for Mathematics & Science Teacher Social Studies for Social Studies Teacher Either a or b for other Teachers
60
60
Total
150 Questions
150 Marks
Assam TET Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for Assam TET Exam has been given below. The subject wise details for this Assan TET exam. Check the details below. Here you will get the details of the subjects and subtopics to prepare for. So check all the details below and start preparing for the same. You can also get the details of the syllabus pdf below.
Theories of learning Process of Children form a diverse context
Organizing Teaching
Classroom management
Concept of child-centred teaching and competency-based teaching
Evaluation
Individual differences
Personality
Common Behavioural Problems of Children
Adjustment
Assam TET Language I Syllabus
Bengali
Bengali
Bodo
Hindi
Manipuri
Nepali
Hmar
Garo
Karbi
Assamese
Assam TET Language II (English) Syllabus
Development of four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
Elements of language, the preliminary concept of language functions.
Learning and acquisition
Vocabulary development/structure of the sentence
Teaching-learning materials in English
Continuous and comprehensive assessment, assessing the four skills: Listening,
Speaking, Reading and Writing
Methods: Approaches, Methods, Techniques and strategies
Parts of speech
Jumbled words/sentences
Verbs, phrases
Articles, determiners
Synonyms/Antonyms
Preposition
Punctuation
Question Pattern
Sentence Pattern
Contracted form
Connections/Linking words
Assam TET Mathematics Syllabus
Numbers
Fractions
Money
Geometry and Mensuration
Data handling
Integration of ICT in teaching Mathematics
Number System
Socially applicable Mathematics
Algebra
Geometry and Mensuration
Introduction to graph and Data handling
Integration of ICT in teaching Mathematics
Assam TET Environmental Science Syllabus
Children Environment
Environment and Child's Need
Care and Protection of Environment
Pedagogy
Integration of ICT in teaching Environmental Science
Use of ICT in teaching environment science
Assam TET Science Syllabus
Kinematics: Motion in a straight line, Laws of Motion, Heat and Temperature, Light, Sound and Electricity Chemistry
Metals and non-metals
Physical and Chemical Change
Acids bases and Salts
Fibre and Fabric
Chemical Effects of Electric Current
Pollution
Living world
Cells
Transportation in animals and plants
Respiration in Organisms
Plant world
Reproduction in Plants
Nutrition in Plants
Crop Production and Management
Animal world
Microorganism
Animal Nutrition
Reproduction in Animals
Integration of ICT in teaching Science'
Importance of ICT in teaching Science
Use of ICT in teaching Science
Assam TET Syllabus for Social Science
Geography
History
Economics
Political Science
Assam High School TET Syllabus 2020 PDF
Assam TET Syllabus 2020: Dear Aspirants !! Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Assam Officials are going to conducting TET Examination on 19th January 2020for recruiting various Graduate Teacher, Classical Teacher, and the Hindi Teacher Posts. So all the aspirants should take an entire analysis of the Assam High School TET Syllabus 2020 and also the Assam Teacher's Eligibility Test Exam Pattern to make the preparation effectively for Assam TET Recruitment 2020.
To prepare well for the examination candidates should refer to all the topics covered for the examination. We suggested the aspirants refer to Assam Secondary TET Syllabus 2020to secure top marks in the written examination. For the sake of candidates, we have also provided the Assam High School TET Exam Pattern 2020, Syllabus and also the Assam Secondary TET Previous Papers to score the highest marks in Assam Teacher's Eligibility Test on this page. Scroll down to know more detailed information about the Assam Teacher's Eligibility Test Syllabus 2020 and also the Exam Pattern.
Assam High School TET Exam Syllabus 2020 – Overview
Description
Details
Name of the Organization
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Assam
No of Vacancies
Various
Name of the Post
Graduate Teacher, Classical Teacher, Hindi Teacher
Selection Procedures for Assam Secondary Teacher's Eligibility Test will be based on the following phases. All the aspirants who want to get through this exam have to perform well in all of these phases. So, aspirants must know the Assam TET selection phases are mentioned below
Written Examination
Personal Interview
Download Assam Secondary TET Syllabus 2020-21 PDF
Assam High School TET Syllabus For General Studies
History and Culture of India with Special Emphasis on Assam History
Indian Political System and Constitution of India
General Science and Technology
Geography of India with Special emphasis on Assam
The economy of India with Special emphasis on Assam
Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Analysis
Environment
Secondary Education in India and Management of Schools
Assam TET Secondary Syllabus – Current Affairs
Matters of State
National and International importance
Political and Economic developments
Culture
Art
Literature
Games
Sports
Scientific, and Technological advancements
Assam High School TET Pedagogy Syllabus
Teaching – Learning Process and Pedagogy
General Principles of Teaching, Maxims of Teaching
Significant trends in Modern Teaching-Learning Process
Teaching Methods and Techniques
Process of Learning-Major Laws of Learning, Role of Motivation in Learning
Teaching Skills
Teaching Devices
Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Cognitive, Affective & Psychomotor
Lesson Plan: Essentials of a Good Unit
Teaching Aids
Educational Psychology
Educational Psychology- It's Meaning and Nature: Application of Educational
Psychology in the classroom.
Attention and Interest – Its Educational Implication
Personality- Its Concept- the role of family and school in personality development
Education of Children with Special Needs
Mental Health and Hygiene, Adjustment and Mechanism
Intelligence- concept, and nature: Individual differences in intelligence, creativity.
Psychology of Adolescence
Significance of Adolescence Period
Dimensions of Development during Adolescence- physical, intellectual,
social, emotional and moral.
Emotional problems in the classroom.
Understanding the adolescent learner- the role of family and school
Juvenile Delinquency
Guidance and Counseling
Understanding Developmental Hazards during adolescence.
Candidates can download the Assam Teacher Eligibility Test Syllabus along with the Exam Pattern on our site. We have provided the complete details regarding the Assam TET Syllabus. Applicants can also check the Assam TET Results, Old Papers on our website. We have given the direct link to download the syllabus and exam pattern. Aspirants can visit the official website to know furthermore details regarding the Syllabus and Exam Pattern.
Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhijan has recently released the recruitment notification to fill up the Graduate Teacher Posts. Candidates who are searching for the Teaching Jobs can apply before the last date. For further more details regarding the Assam TET Recruitment 2020 check on our site. We have given Latest Employment News and Latest Govt Jobs on our website. Applicants who are waiting for the Government Jobs in Assam can utilize this notification.
Assam TET Exam Syllabus 2020 – Overview
Description
Details
Organization Name
Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhijan
Posts Name
Graduate Teacher Posts
Vacancies
Various
Category
Previous Papers
Official Website
www.rmsaassam.in
Assam Teacher's Eligibility Test Exam Pattern 2020
Applicants who have applied can check the exam pattern before appearing the exam because the exam pattern makes your preparation easy. Check the below Graduate Teacher Secondary School Assam Exam Pattern.
Test Type
Parts
Subjects
No. of Questions
Marks
Objective Type
Part – I
General Studies
100
100
Current Affairs
Part – II
Pedagogy
100
100
General English
ATET Selection Procedure:
Candidates will be selected based on the Written Examination Conducted by the Assam Secondary School Board.
Written Examination.
Download Assam TET Syllabus 2020 PDF
Applicants who are appearing the exam can download the syllabus here. We have provided the Complete Syllabus for Graduate Teacher. We had given the direct link to download the Assam TET Syllabus through on click.
General Studies Syllabus
History and Culture of India with Special Emphasis on Assam History.
Indian Political System and Constitution of India.
General Science and Technology.
Geography of India with Special emphasis on Assam.
the Economy of India with Special emphasis on Assam.
Mental Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Analysis.
Environment.
Secondary Education in India and Management of Schools.
Today I will share with you a wide range of IELTS travel vocabulary words to help you hike up your IELTS score on any IELTS Speaking question that has to do with travel & adventure in the Speaking section (Part 1, 2 or 3) on the IELTS test.
Useful Collocation and expressions for IELTS Speaking – Topic: Travel
To get away: To escape, to go somewhere that is not your home. You can also use the noun "a getaway."
Example: Last week, I had a great chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to visit an ancient village in the countryside.
IELTS Speaking Actual tests Jan - May 2020 with suggested answers- Ebook
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IELTS Speaking Actual Tests & Suggested Answers written by IELTS teachers aims to help IELTS candidates perform at their best on the big day.
A thirst for adventure: strong desire for travelling/adventure
Get itchy feet: have a strong desire to travel
Example: I’ve always had a thirst for adventure and often get itchy feet so I decided to set out to a journey from the North to the South of Australia next month.
To find a gem: When you find a place where only locals go and other tourists don't visit.
Example: Try to find a local guide when you visit a foreign country to successfully find a gem during your trip.
Arduous journey: difficult & tiring journey
Break the journey: stop for a short time during journey
Example: I had a arduous journey to the South of Vietnam last year. I thought I would break the journey somewhere but I finally did it all in one go.
Adventurous explorer: a traveler who is willing to do or try new and daring things
Have a stopover: Have a brief overnight stay in a place when on a long journey to somewhere else, usually by air
Example: I had a stopover in China on the way to Thailand, had a bit of a rest, and did the sights there before travelling on.
Low-cost airline: discount or budget airline
Put somebody on standby: make me wait to see if a seat become available
Example: Last week I got a flight on a low-cost airline to Paris. I then tried to get a flight to the UK but they were all full, so they put me on standby.
To take a red eye: To take a late night airline flight
Example: I had to take a red eye and now I’m exhausted.
Intrepid explorer: brave, with no fear of dangerous situations
Off the beaten track: An unusual route or destination
Example: My best friend is a intrepid traveler who has a real sense of adventure. He always love to set out on a journey off the beaten track
Unexplored wilderness
Example: I’m thirsty for a journey into unexplored wilderness and getting right off the beaten track.
To take the road less traveled: To do things differently and to think outside of the box.
Example: Adventurous travelers like to take the road less traveled when visiting a new country.
A real sense of adventure: the urge to explore beyond your daily surroundings and open yourself up to the adventure
To have wanderlust: To want to move around and see a lot of things around the world. To not want to stay in one place.
Example: I had a incurable case of wanderlust.
The first leg of the journey:thefirstsegment of a journey;thefirstflight of a multi-flighttrip.
Example: The first leg of the journey got me to the UK but it just gave me very little indication of what lay ahead.
Off the beaten track (path): in a place where few people go; unusual route/destination
Example: Most young travellers make the effort to get off the tourist trail and look for off the beaten path destinations to experience the raw beauty of the country.
Practice:
Part 1 Sample Questions
Do you like to travel?
What kind of places have you visited in your life?
Which place would you really like to visit? Why?
What's the best place you've ever visited?
Which form(s) of transport do you usually use?
What is the easiest way to get around your town/city?
Do people use public transport where you live?
Are there any problems with the public transport system in your town/city?
How do you prefer to travel on long journeys?
What is the most unusual method of transport you've ever used?
Part 2: Cue Card
Describe an interesting journey you have been on.
You should say:
where you went
how you travelled there
who you went with
and explain what was so memorable about the journey.
Part 3 Sample Questions
How important is it to have adventure in our lives?
What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?
How do you think people will travel in the future?
How easy is it to travel around your country?
Which method of travel do you consider safest?
Has travel become safer in recent years?
What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
How do you think people will travel in the future?
Remember, the worst thing you could do on the IELTS is to sound like every other Band 6 student by using typical IELTS vocabulary.
Make sure you are using interesting and native vocabulary throughout the exam like the ones in today's article.
Not really actually! I'm more of a creature of habit (someone who doesn’t like changes to routine), so I'm usually not keen to change my daily routine. When I change it up, I often feel anxious and disoriented (not a clear mind). Furthermore, I have a fear or airplanes and get carsick, so traveling just isn't for me.
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2. Do you often travel by air?
Not at all! I try to avoid it at all costs (very seriously). If I must travel, I will take some motion sickness (getting sick from any kind of transportation) medicine and go by car or train. I was once on an airplane on my honeymoon that came very near to crashing, so my phobia (strong fear)stems from (comes from. Stem is the part where the flower grows) this.
3. How long was the longest trip you took?
I once had to go on business to the Philippines. It was a 24 hour flight! It was a nightmare (we saw this when something is very terrible). On top of this, I was seated next to a child who was relentlessly (not stopping) crying during the entire journey.
4. Which country would you like to travel to in the future?
I'm dying to (I really want to) go to Egypt. I've always dreamt of going there since I was a child, actually. I'm really fascinated by their ancient culture. I would be in awe of (amazed by) the Grand Pyramids I'm sure. Unfortunately, since I despise (hate) flying, I don’t think I'll ever get there.
5. Would you like to travel to space?
Perhaps! I'm not sure how it feels to be in a rocket. I think it would be incredible to see a completely foreign galaxy (another world). I'm curious if other life forms (aliens) exist, so I would definitely go along on this journey to find out for myself. I also wonder if the moon is made out of cheese!
6. What is your favorite festival?
Hmm, that's a tough question because I'm definitely a holiday person (a person who likes holidays), but I would have to say New Years Eve. I'm always keen (want) for change and new beginnings, so I love setting new goals at the start of each new year, not to mention I really enjoy the parties. Second to this would be Valentine's Day, since I'm a hopeless romantic (a very romantic person).
7. How do you celebrate the festival?
In my culture, it's more very family-oriented holiday. We usually have a special family dinner at home followed by the countdown to midnight. However, in my culture we add something special to it. At the clock ticks down to midnight, we eat 12 grapes which signify a different wish for each month. After this, we go out to the city or town streets to drink with our friends and wish them a happy new year.
8. What is the most popular festival in your country?
Definitely Christmas, since I'm from a Catholic country. Nearly every town and city goes out of the way to deck (decorate) the streets out with Christmas lights and decorations. However, unlike other countries, we celebrate the epiphany, or day of the three wise men, on January 6 just as much at the 25th. This is the day in which we exchange gifts and watch parades.
9. Do you like western festivals?
Of course! They are part of my culture. I especially love Christmas, Easter, and New Years since they have always been part of my upbringing (childhood). However, I also find eastern festivals interesting. I lived in Vietnam for 2 years, and I was in awe (amazed) of the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn festival.
10. Where do people usually go during festivals?
Between homes and the streets. We hold meals in our homes for the holidays, as we value home-cooked meals. However, we are people who enjoy going out, so we often go out to celebrate at bars or even in the streets. For example, the Christmas Eve celebration entails going to a bar with friends until the wee hours(early hours) of the morning, followed by a family lunch the next day.
The Listening test takes around 30 minutes. Each Listening test includes four sections with 40 questions. The Listening test is recorded on a CD and is played ONCE only. The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training tests.
There are four sections:
Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency).
Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local families). Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and student discussing an assignment). Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture).
With an aim to helping you get the score you need in IELTS Listening, IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests Series provide you with more than 20 listening tests from authentic papers.
You should practice on real tests because these listening tests were extracted from authentic IELTS tests; therefore, you are in all probability to take these tests in your real examinations. You can see the index to know the dates these tests were taken. Moreover, when practicing this book, you can evaluate at the nearest possibility how difficult the IELTS Listening Part is in the real exam, and what the top most common traps are.
The diagram illustrates the overview of the recycling process of used bottles. It is clear that there are three distinct stages in this process, from bottle collection to the delivery of new ones to customers.
At the beginning of the process, bottles with different shapes and colors are gathered at the collection point. These containers are then transported to a plant in which they will be washed by high pressurized water. After that, these clean bottles will be sorted according to their colors which are brown, green or clear.
These sorted bottles will be brought to a recycling plant where they will be put in a furnace to produce molten recycled glass. At the following stage, this liquid will be mixed with new liquid glass. This mixture can be shaped in a tool called mould to make new bottles. Finally, these end products are delivered to supermarkets to serve customers.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 on the following pages.
The Impact of the Potato
Jeff Chapman relates the story of history the most important vegetable
A The potato was first cultivated in South America between three and seven thousand years ago, though scientists believe they may have grown wild in the region as long as 13,000 years ago. The genetic patterns of potato distribution indicate that the potato probably originated in the mountainous west-central region of the continent.
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B Early Spanish chroniclers who misused the Indian word batata (sweet potato) as the name for the potato noted the importance of the tuber to the Incan Empire. The Incas had learned to preserve the potato for storage by dehydrating and mashing potatoes into a substance called Chuchu could be stored in a room for up to 10 years, providing excellent insurance against possible crop failures. As well as using the food as a staple crop, the Incas thought potatoes made childbirth easier and used it to treat injuries.
C The Spanish conquistadors first encountered the potato when they arrived in Peru in 1532 in search of gold, and noted Inca miners eating chuchu. At the time the Spaniards failed to realize that the potato represented a far more important treasure than either silver or gold, but they did gradually begin to use potatoes as basic rations aboard their ships. After the arrival of the potato in Spain in 1570，a few Spanish farmers began to cultivate them on a small scale, mostly as food for livestock.
D Throughout Europe, potatoes were regarded with suspicion, distaste and fear. Generally considered to be unfit for human consumption, they were used only as animal fodder and sustenance for the starving. In northern Europe, potatoes were primarily grown in botanical gardens as an exotic novelty. Even peasants refused to eat from a plant that produced ugly, misshapen tubers and that had come from a heathen civilization. Some felt that the potato plant's resemblance to plants in the nightshade family hinted that it was the creation of witches or devils.
E In meat-loving England, farmers and urban workers regarded potatoes with extreme distaste. In 1662, the Royal Society recommended the cultivation of the tuber to the English government and the nation, but this recommendation had little impact. Potatoes did not become a staple until, during the food shortages associated with the Revolutionary Wars, the English government began to officially encourage potato cultivation. In 1795, the Board of Agriculture issued a pamphlet entitled “Hints Respecting the Culture and Use of Potatoes"； this was followed shortly by pro-potato editorials and potato recipes in The Times. Gradually, the lower classes began to follow the lead of the upper classes.
F A similar pattern emerged across the English Channel in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. While the potato slowly gained ground in eastern France (where it was often the only crop remaining after marauding soldiers plundered wheat fields and vineyards), it did not achieve widespread acceptance until the late 1700s. The peasants remained suspicious, in spite of a 1771 paper from the Facult de Paris testifying that the potato was not harmful but beneficial. The people began to overcome their distaste when the plant received the royal seal of approval: Louis XVI began to sport a potato flower in his buttonhole, and Marie-Antoinette wore the purple potato blossom in her hair.
G Frederick the Great of Prussia saw the potato’s potential to help feed his nation and lower the price of bread, but faced the challenge of overcoming the people's prejudice against the plant. When he issued a 1774 order for his subjects to grow potatoes as protection against famine, the town of Kolberg replied: “The things have neither smell nor taste, not even the dogs will eat them, so what use are they to us?” Trying a less direct approach to encourage his subjects to begin planting potatoes, Frederick used a bit of reverse psychology: he planted a royal field of potato plants and stationed a heavy guard to protect this field from thieves. Nearby peasants naturally assumed that anything worth guarding was worth stealing, and so snuck into the field and snatched the plants for their home gardens. Of course, this was entirely in line with Frederick’s wishes.
H Historians debate whether the potato was primarily a cause or an effect of the huge population boom in industrial-era England and Wales. Prior to 1800，the English diet had consisted primarily of meat, supplemented by bread, butter and cheese. Few vegetables were consumed, most vegetables being regarded as nutritionally worthless and potentially harmful. This view began to change gradually in the late 1700s. The Industrial Revolution was drawing an ever increasing percentage of the populace into crowded cities, where only the richest could afford homes with ovens or coal storage rooms, and people were working 12-16 hour days which left them with little time or energy to prepare food. High yielding, easily prepared potato crops were the obvious solution to England's food problems.
I Whereas most of their neighbors regarded the potato with suspicion and had to be persuaded to use it by the upper classes, the Irish peasantry embraced the tuber more passionately than anyone since the Incas. The potato was well suited to the Irish the soil and climate, and its high yield suited the most important concern of most Irish farmers: to feed their families.
J The most dramatic example of the potato’s potential to alter population patterns occurred in Ireland, where the potato had become a staple by 1800. The Irish population doubled to eight million between 1780 and 1841，this without any significant expansion of industry or reform of agricultural techniques beyond the widespread cultivation of the potato. Though Irish landholding practices were primitive in comparison with those of England, the potato’s high yields allowed even the poorest farmers to produce more healthy food than they needed with scarcely any investment or hard labor. Even children could easily plant, harvest and cook potatoes, which of course required no threshing, curing or grinding. The abundance provided by potatoes greatly decreased infant mortality and encouraged early marriage.
Questions 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write
YES
if the statement is true
NO
if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN
if the information is not given in the passage
1. The early Spanish called potato as the Incan name 'Chuchu，.
2. The purposes of Spanish coming to Peru were to find out potatoes.
3. The Spanish believed that the potato has the same nutrients as other vegetables.
4. Peasants at that time did not like to eat potatoes because they were ugly.
5. The popularity of potatoes in the UK was due to food shortages during the war.
Questions 6-13
Complete the sentences below with NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND from the passage 1 for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 6-13 on your answer sheet.
6. In France，people started to overcome their disgusting about potatoes because the King put a potato ___________________ in his button hole.
7. Frederick realized the potential of potato but he had to handle the ______________________ against potatoes from ordinary people.
8. The King of Prussia adopted some _________________________ psychology to make people accept potatoes.
9. Before 1800，the English people preferred eating _____________________________ with bread, butter and cheese.
10. The obvious way to deal with England food problems were high yielding potato ______________________
11. The Irish _____________________________and climate suited potatoes well.
12. Between 1780 and 1841，based on the ___________________________ of the potatoes, the
Irish population doubled to eight million.
13. The potato's high yields help the poorest farmers to produce more healthy food almost without _____________________
SECTION 2
Can we call it "Art"? (2)
Life-Casting and Art
Julian Bames explores the questions posed by Life-Casts, an exhibition of plaster moulds of living people and objects which were originally used for scientific purposes
A Art changes over time and our idea of what art is changes too. For example, objects originally intended for devotional, ritualistic or re-creational purposes may be recategorised as art by members of other later civilisations, such as our own, which no longer respond to these purposes.
B What also happens is that techniques and crafts which would have been judged inartistic at the time they were used are reassessed. Life-casting is an interesting example of this. It involved making a plaster mould of a living person or thing. This was complex, technical work, as Benjamin Robert Haydon discovered when he poured 250 litres of plaster over his human model and nearly killed him. At the time, the casts were used for medical research and, consequently, in the nineteenth century life-casting was considered inferior to sculpture in the same way that, more recently, photography was thought to be a lesser art than painting. Both were viewed as unacceptable shortcuts by the 'senior 1 arts. Their virtues of speed and unwavering realism also implied their limitations; they left little or no room for the imagination.
C For many, life-casting was an insult to the sculptor’s creative genius. In an infamous lawsuit of 1834, a moulder whose mask of the dying French emperor Napoleon had been reproduced and sold without his permission was judged to have no rights to the image. In other words, he was specifically held not to be an artist. This judgement reflect the view of established members of the nineteenth-century art world such as Rodin, who commented that life-casting 'happens fast but it doesn't make Art'. Some even feared that 'if too much nature was allowed in, it would lead Art away from its proper course of the Ideal.
D The painter Gauguin, at the end of the nineteenth century, worried about future developments in photography. If ever the process went into colour, what painter would labour away at a likeness with a brush made from squirrel-tail? But painting has proved robust. Photography has changed it, of course, just as the novel had to reassess narrative after the arrival of the cinema. But the gap between the senior and junior arts was always narrower than the traditionalists implied. Painters have always used technical back-up such as studio assistants to do the boring bits, while apparently lesser crafts involve great skill, thought, preparation and, depending on how we define it， imagination.
E Time changes our view in another way, too. Each new movement implies a reassessment of what has gone before. What is done now alters what was done before. In some cases this is merely self-serving, with the new art using the old to justify itself. It seems to be saying, look at how all of that points to this! Aren't we clever to be the culmination of all that has gone before? But usually it is a matter of re-alerting the sensibility, reminding us not to take things for granted. Take, for example, the cast of the hand of a giant from a circus, made by an anonymous artist around 1889, an item that would now sit happily in any commercial or public gallery. The most significant impact of this piece is on the eye, in the contradiction between unexpected size and verisimilitude. Next, the human element kicks in. you note that the nails are dirt-encrusted, unless this is the caster's decorative addition, and the fingertips extend far beyond them. Then you take in the element of choice, arrangement, art if you like, in the neat, pleated, buttoned sleeve-end that gives the item balance and variation of texture. This is just a moulded hand, yet the part stands utterly for the whole. It reminds us slyly, poignantly, of the full-size original
F But is it art? And, if so, why? These are old tediously repeated questions to which artists have often responded, 'It is art because I am an artist and therefore what I do is art. However, what doesn't work for literature works much better for art – works of art do float free of their creators’ intentions. Over time the "reader" does become more powerful. Few of us can look at a medieval altarpiece as its painter intended. We believe too little and aesthetically know too much, so we recreate and find new fields of pleasure in the work. Equally, the lack of artistic intention of Paul Richer and other forgotten craftsmen who brushed oil onto flesh, who moulded, cast and decorated in the nineteenth century is now irrelevant. What counts is the surviving object and our response to it. The tests are simple: does it interest the eye, excite the brain, move the mind to reflection and involve the heart. It may, to use the old dichotomy, be beautiful but it is rarely true to any significant depth. One of the constant pleasures of art is its ability to come at us from an unexpected angle and stop us short in wonder.
Questions 14-18
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A-F.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.
14. an example of a craftsman's unsuccessful claim to ownership of his work
15. an example of how trends in art can change attitudes to an earlier work
16. the original function of a particular type of art
17. ways of assessing whether or not an object is art
18. how artists deal with the less interesting aspects of their work
Questions 19-24
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 19-24 on your answer sheet, write
YES
if the statement is true
NO
if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN
if the information is not given in the passage
19. Nineteenth-century sculptors admired the speed and realism of life-casting.
20. Rodin believed the quality of the life-casting would improve if a slower process were used.
21. The importance of painting has decreased with the development of colour photography.
22. Life-casting requires more skill than sculpture does.
23. New art encourages us to look at earlier work in a fresh way.
24. The intended meaning of a work of art can get lost over time.
Questions 25-26
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet.
25. The most noticeable contrast in the cast of the gianfs hand is between the
A dirt and decoration
B size and realism
C choice and arrangement
D balance and texture
26. According to the writer, the importance of any artistic object lies in
A the artist's intentions
B the artist's beliefs
C the relevance it has to modem life
D the way we respond to it
SECTION 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40，which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
Honey bees in trouble
Can native pollinators fill the gap?
A Recently, ominous headlines have described a mysterious ailment, colony collapse disorder(CCD)，that is wiping out the honeybees that pollinate many crops. Without honeybees, the story goes, fields will be sterile, economies will collapse, and food will be scarce.
B But what few accounts acknowledge is that what’s at risk is not itself a natural state of affairs. For one thing, in the United States, where CCD was first reported and has had its greatest impacts, honeybees are not a native species. Pollination in modem agriculture isn’t alchemy, it's industry. The total number of hives involved in the U.S. pollination industry has been somewhere between 2.5 million and 3 million in recent years. Meanwhile, American farmers began using large quantities of organophosphate insecticides, planted large-scale crop monocultures, and adopted “clean farming” practices that scrubbed native vegetation from field margins and roadsides. These practices killed many native bees outright—they're as vulnerable to insecticides as any agricultural pest—and made the agricultural landscape inhospitable to those that remained. Concern about these practices and their effects on pollinators isn't new—in her 1962 ecological alarm cry Silent Spring, Rachel Carson warned of a ‘Fruitless Fall' that could result from the disappearance of insect pollinators.
C If that 'Fruitless Fall, has not—yet—occurred, it may be largely thanks to the honeybee, which farmers turned to as the ability of wild pollinators to service crops declined. The honeybee has been semi-domesticated since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but it wasn't just familiarity that determined this choice: the bees’ biology is in many ways suited to the kind of agricultural system that was emerging. For example, honeybee hives can be closed up and moved out of the way when pesticides are applied to a field. The bees are generalist pollinators, so they can be used to pollinate many different crops. And although they are not the most efficient pollinator of every crop, honeybees have strength in numbers, with 20,000 to 100,000 bees living in a single hive. “Without a doubt, if there was one bee you wanted for agriculture, it would be the honeybee, "says Jim Cane, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The honeybee, in other words, has become a crucial cog in the modem system of industrial agriculture. That system delivers more food, and more kinds of it, to more places, more cheaply than ever before. But that system is also vulnerable, because making a farm field into the photosynthetic equivalent of a factory floor, and pollination into a series of continent-long assembly lines, also leaches out some of the resilience characteristic of natural ecosystems.
D Breno Freitas, an agronomist, pointed out that in nature such a high degree of specialization usually is a very dangerous game: it works well while all the rest is in equilibrium, but runs quickly to extinction at the least disbalance. In effect, by developing an agricultural system that is heavily reliant on a single pollinator species, we humans have become riskily overspecialized. And when the human-honeybee relationship is disrupted, as it has been by colony collapse disorder, the vulnerability of that agricultural system begins to become clear.
E In fact, a few wild bees are already being successfully managed for crop pollination. “The problem is trying to provide native bees in adequate numbers on a reliable basis in a fairly short number of years in order to service the crop，” Jim Cane says. “You're talking millions of flowers per acre in a two-to three-week time frame, or less, for a lot of crops.” On the other hand, native bees can be much more efficient pollinators of certain crops than honeybees, so you don’t need as many to do the job. For example, about 750 blue orchard bees (Osmia lignaria) can pollinate a hectare of apples or almonds, a task that would require roughly 50,000 to 150,000 honeybees. There are bee tinkerers engaged in similar work in many comers of the world. In Brazil, Breno Freitas has found that Centris tarsata, the native pollinator of wild cashew, can survive in commercial cashew orchards if growers provide a source of floral oils, such as by interplanting their cashew trees with Caribbean cherry.
F In certain places, native bees may already be doing more than they're getting credit for. Ecologist Rachael Winfree recently led a team that looked at pollination of four summer crops (tomato, watermelon, peppers, and muskmelon) at 29 farms in the region of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Winfiree’s team identified 54 species of wild bees that visited these crops, and found that wild bees were the most important pollinators in the system: even though managed honeybees were present on many of the farms, wild bees were responsible for 62 percent of flower visits in the study. In another study focusing specifically on watermelon, Winfree and her colleagues calculated that native bees alone could provide sufficient pollination at 90 percent of the 23 farms studied. By contrast, honeybees alone could provide sufficient pollination at only 78 percent of farms.
G “The region I work in is not typical of the way most food is produced，" Winfree admits. In the Delaware Valley, most farms and farm fields are relatively small, each fanner typically grows a variety of crops, and farms are interspersed with suburbs and other types of land use which means there are opportunities for homeowners to get involved in bee conservation, too. The landscape is a bee-friendly patchwork that provides a variety of nesting habitat and floral resources distributed among different kinds of crops, weedy field margins, fallow fields, suburban neighborhoods, and semi natural habitat like old woodlots, all at a relatively small scale. In other words, ''pollinator-friendly” farming practices would not only aid pollination of agricultural crops, but also serve as a key element in the over all conservation strategy for wild pollinators, and often aid other wild species as well.
H Of course, not all farmers will be able to implement all of these practices. And researchers are suggesting a shift to a kind of polyglot agricultural system. For some small-scale farms, native bees may indeed be all that's needed. For larger operations, a suite of managed bees—with honeybees filling the generalist role and other, native bees pollinating specific crops—could be augmented by free pollination services from resurgent wild pollinators. In other words, they’re saying, we still have an opportunity to replace a risky monoculture with something diverse, resilient, and robust.
Questions 27-30
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
27. In the United States, farmers use honeybees in a large scale over the past few years.
28. Cleaning farming practices would be harmful to farmers'
29. The blue orchard bee is the most efficient pollinator among native bees for every crop.
30. It is beneficial to other local creatures to protect native bees.
Questions 31-35
Choose the correct letter, A,B,C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.
31. The example of the ‘Fruitless Fair underlines the writer's point about
A needs for using pesticides.
B impacts of losing insect pollinators.
C vulnerabilities of native bees.
D benefits in building more pollination industries.
32. Why can honeybees adapt to the modem agricultural system?
A the honeybees can pollinated more crops efficiently
B The bees are semi-domesticated since ancient times.
C Honeybee hives can be protected away from pesticides.
D The ability of wild pollinators using to serve crops declines.
33. The writer mentions factories and assembly lines to illustrate
A one drawback of the industrialised agricultural system.
B a low cost in modem agriculture.
C the role of honeybees in pollination.
D what a high yield of industrial agriculture.
34. In the 6th paragraph，Wlnfree's experiment proves that
A honeybee can pollinate various crops.
B there are many types of wild bees as the pollinators.
C the wild bees can increase the yield to a higher percentage
D wild bees work more efficiently as a pollinator than honey bees in certain cases
35. What does the writer want to suggest in the last paragraph?
A the importance of honey bees in pollination
B adoption of different bees in various sizes of agricultural system
C the comparison between the intensive and the rarefied agricultural system
D the reason why farmers can rely on native pollinators
Questions 36-40
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet
36. Headline of colony collapse disorder states that
37. Viewpoints of Freitas manifest that
38. Examples of blue orchard bees have shown that
39. Centris tarsata is mentioned to exemplify that
40. One finding of the research in Delaware Valley is that
A. native pollinators can survive when a specific plant is supplied.
B. it would cause severe consequences both to commerce and agriculture.
C. honey bees cannot be bred.
D. some agricultural landscapes are favorable in supporting wild bees.
E. a large scale of honey bees are needed to pollinate.
F. an agricultural system is fragile when relying on a single pollinator
I can't say for sure since it largely depends on personal demand and interest. Women seem to be more obsessed with fashion and shopping than the rest of the population but, of course, there are exceptions. Those who love spending time and money on beautiful pieces of clothing pay great attention for their appearance and take pleasure in the act itself, while others consider it a waste of resources. However, people have different reasons to buy clothes which are not necessarily related to whether they enjoy it or not. For example, most men tend to avoid clothes shopping unless they need a new suit for some formal event or simply because they're run out of clothes.
take pleasure in (idiom): derive happiness or enjoyment from
IELTS Speaking Actual tests Jan - May 2020 with suggested answers- Ebook
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IELTS Speaking Actual Tests & Suggested Answers written by IELTS teachers aims to help IELTS candidates perform at their best on the big day.
Why women like to do shopping?
Women are usually considered creatures of beauty, which may explain why they love shopping and enjoy lavish costumes to a considerable degree. First and foremost, outfits are visual indicators of personal image and personalities, hence, they want to dress accordingly. Secondly, shopping is not only for the sake of fashion but also an effective means of relaxation. In modern society where lots of people are under constant stress every day, indulging oneself in some serious shopping may help to take the weight off their mind, despite temporarily. Last but not least, women don't usually shop for themselves alone but most of their spending is on family and friends. They relish the idea of giving gifts or buying nice clothes for their beloved ones, therefore, shopping sits high on their to-do lists.
to a considerable degree (idiom): to some extent
indicator (n): a sign that shows you what something is like or how a situation is changing
for the sake of (idiom): in order to get or keep something
under stress: dealing with something that causes worry or anxiety
indulge in (v): to allow yourself to have or do something that you like, especially something that is considered bad for you
take the weight off one's mind (idiom): to allow you to stop worrying about a particular thing
relish (v): to get great pleasure from something; to want very much to do or have something
Why some women buy cheaper clothes and expensive ones at the same time?
Admittedly, the more high-priced a piece of clothing is, the more exquisite it looks. However, it doesn't mean low-cost costumes are less appealing or fashionable. Therefore, many women have both high-end items as well as more budget-friendly ones in their closet for different purposes. Luxury brands such as Gucci, Channel or Louis Vuitton are more familiar with the upper class and frequently make their appearance in upscale places or events. Yet, more affordable apparel brands like ZARA or H&M are not falling behind in terms of fashion trends or stylish designs. Thus, many prefer them and their products are suitable for various occasion from daily wear to special ones.
high-priced (a): high-priced
exquisite (a): extremely beautiful or carefully made
low-cost (a): below the usual cost; cheap
appealing (a): attractive or interesting
high-end (a): expensive and of high quality
budget-friendly (a): inexpensive
upper class (n): upper class
make one's appearance: to appear; to appear in a performance
upscale (a): relatively expensive and designed to appeal to affluent consumers affordable (a):
fall behind (phrasal verb): fail to keep up with one’s competitors
Do you think it is good for people buy expensive clothes? Why?
People have their own preference when it comes to fashion which satisfy both their taste and affordability. I believe it's more economically wise not to spend exorbitant amount of money on clothing since such amount can be invested more efficiently. The first reason is fashion is mainly short-lived. Once a certain type of clothing goes out of style, it is likely to be left untouched for eternity in spite of only being worn for a few times. Imagine the exact same thing happens with dozens of other pieces in your closet and the amount of money you waste will add up. Furthermore, it will be more beneficial to invest in experiences and knowledge rather than material items. Travel more and explore the world while you still can will bring you more pleasure and wisdom than a fashionable dress ever could.
economically wise (a): using money, resources, etc., carefully
short-lived (a): lasting only for a short time
in/ out of fashion (idiom): popular (or unpopular) and considered (or not considered) to be attractive at the time in question.
untouched (a): not be worn
eternity (n): a period of time that seems to be very long or to never end
add up (phrasal verb): to amount to an expected total
Why do some people like shopping with friends?
Plenty of people, including me, enjoy shopping with friends rather than by themselves because of some privileges they can't find otherwise. People tend to seek advice or ideas on the products or services when shopping. Hence, a companion can provide you with more objective and fairer remarks on the item you want to buy but are uncertain of, which is extremely helpful when it comes to fashion. Besides, it might be impossible for you to refrain yourself from overspending and that's where your co-shopper comes to your rescue. Before they let you go over your budget, they make sure you are aware of the pros and cons. Thus, unless all my friends are occupied, I rarely go shopping alone.
privilege (n): something that you are proud and lucky to have the opportunity to do
companion (n): a person who has similar tastes, interests, etc. to your own and whose company you enjoy
objective (a): not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; considering only facts
remark (n): something that you say or write which expresses an opinion, a thought, etc. about somebody/something
refrain (v): to stop yourself from doing something, especially something that you want to do
overspend (v): to spend too much money or more than you planned
come to rescue (idiom): to rescue or save someone or something
over budget (idiom): beyond the amount of money than had been planned for
Why people like shopping for clothes online?
Online shopping, especially for apparel, has become a thriving business in a past few years for good reasons. To begin with, buying online is incredibly time-saving. Instead of spending hours driving to your favorite malls to get some new clothes of the latest collection, your problem can be solved with only Internet connections and, of course, your fine taste in fashion. No energy is needed, either. Secondly, you always have best deals when subscribing to any online stores, which can save you tons of money that you don't even notice. Some shops even offer exclusive promotions for loyal customers, therefore, get ready for special treats. Lastly, you can easily switch from site to site to have even more choices without moving anything but your fingers.
thriving (a): continuing to be successful, strong, healthy, etc.
subscribe (v): to arrange to have regular access to an electronic information service or other Internet service
exclusive (a): only to be used by one particular person or group; only given to one particular person or group
What risks would take when shopping online? Why?
Everything always has two sides and shopping online may not always prove to be the best choice. Many online shoppers have experienced unpleasant situations in which either products or service, or sometimes both, fell short of their expectations. The most common problem is false advertisement in terms of color, size or material which is profoundly disturbing since each person has a unique figure that suits some certain pieces of clothing. As a result, you don't get what you pay for. In addition, unless you order on trustworthy online stores of well-known brands or the like, customer service can't be guaranteed. It may take days or weeks until your concern is addressed or worse, forever. Therefore, be careful and selective before any purchase decision to avoid irksome experience.
fall short of (idiom): if something falls short of a particular level or standard, it does not reach it
irksome (a): irksome
profoundly (adv): in a way that has a very great effect on somebody/something
selective (a): tending to be careful about what or who you choose
What special clothes do people in your country wear on official or formal occasions?
General speaking, there isn't any strict dress code in most of the events, except some exclusive ones but people do share some implicitly agreed idea when it comes to formal attires. As regards men, suits, blazers or tuxedos are their common choice. This is understandable since a nicely tailored suit can not only boost a man's confidence and exude power but also an indicator of honor and respect. After all, it's better to overdress than underdress. Women, on the other hand, usually dress up in elegant dresses or gowns which can accentuate their feminine figures and make them shine. And depending on the formality level of the event, the types of dresses can vary greatly from little black dresses, cocktail dresses to fabulous gowns.
exude (v): if you exude a particular feeling or quality, or it exudes from you, people can easily see that you have it
overdress (v): wear clothes that are too formal or too elegant for a particular occasion
underdress (v): dress too plainly or too informally
accentuate (v): to emphasize something or make it more noticeable
formality (n): correct and formal behaviour
What is the different dress style between boys and girls?
Needless to say, boys' and girls' taste in fashion is as different as chalk and cheese since the former looks for the ease of use while the latter is all for style and beauty. Due to their dynamic nature, most boys actively engage in outdoor games or physical activities such as gardening, roller skating and other sports. Hence, clothes that are sweat-absorbent, loose-fitting and hard-wearing are often preferable to male youngsters. However, girls appear to develop a sense of style sooner than their counterparts, therefore, their outfits are more diverse, form-fitting and fashionable ranging from blouses, shirts, tank tops to mini dresses, skirts or culottes.
as different as chalk and cheese (idiom): if two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other
sweat-absorbent (a): being able to absorb sweat
loose-fitting (a): (of clothes) not fitting the body tightly
hard-wearing (a): able to stand much wear
counterpart (n): a person or thing that has the same position or function as somebody/something else in a different place or situation
form-fitting (a): fitting the body snugly, so that its shape is clearly visible
Do you like jewel?
I love collecting tiny pieces of art like jewelries since they are not only accessories but perfect complements to your whole look. There are thousands of types and designs of jewelries for you to choose from so I bet everyone, regardless of genders, can find at least one item they love, from earrings, bracelets, necklaces to watches. The materials of which they are made also varied from luxurious ones such as silver, gold, diamond to more affordable and street-style ones like artificial stones, copper or other metals. Thus, they can go with different kinds of styles and if you do it right, they will make your outfit less boring and livelier.
complement (n): a thing that adds new qualities to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive
regardless of: paying no attention to something/somebody; treating something/somebody as not being important
Do you wear many jewels?
Even though I have a whole jewelry collection at home, I've never attempted to put on more than five pieces since I live with a motto "simplicity is the best". I have a habit of picking up eye-catching accessories whenever I come across one but always consider carefully before matching them with my costume. For example, if I dress in an off-shoulder top, a simple choker is good enough to highlight my long neck. Other times when I tie my hair in a messy bun, I prefer a pair of sophisticated earrings such as hoop or feather ones to add more feminine and romantic vibes. But all in all, never exceed five at the same time.
motto (n): a short sentence or phrase that expresses the aims and beliefs of a person, a group, an institution, etc. and is used as a rule of behaviour
come across (phrasal verb): meet or find by chance
Why some people wear a jewel for a long time?
I suppose each has their own reasons. In most cases, if people get attached to a certain piece of jewelries, there might be a story behind it. It could be a family heirloom that has been passed down generations to generations so it has a special meaning to the owner. Or it may belong to someone they hold dear such as their spouse, parent or soulmate which can explain why they don't want to take it off. Another reason is that they keep wearing the same jewel just out of habit. They get accustomed to it after a while and are too lazy to change the new one so there it stays.
get attached to: attach
heirloom (n): a valuable object that has belonged to the same family for many years
hold dear (idiom): be fond of; be attached to | cherish, treasure, care for
out of habit (idiom): habitually
get accustomed to: to think/start to think that something is normal or natural because you have experienced it regularly over a period of time
This great IELTS Speaking Book called “31 High-scoring Formulas to Answer The Ielts Speaking Questions” will help you answer IELTS questions in the most natural and confident way to score Band 7.5+ for the IELTS test.
Looking back at your past time of speaking English or your latest conversation with a foreigner, did you encounter any of the following problems: So embarrassed that you were empty-minded? Thinking of many aspects but not knowing which one to begin with? Knowing the answer but unable to express it in English fluently?
31 High-scoring Formulas to Answer the IELTS Speaking Questions can help IELTS candidates solve the problems of "not knowing what to say" and "not knowing how to say it" in the Speaking test. These 31 high-scoring formulas are designed based on effective strategies to deal with actual IELTS Speaking test questions. They cover nearly all topics in the real Speaking test. Mastering them enables the candidates to answer every question naturally and confidently in order to get the highest score possible at their level of proficiency. For example, instead of saying that “he is funny"( band 5.0), you can use this sentence “He has a good sense of humour" (band 7). Take one more common question in the IELTS Speaking test as an example, "How often do you play sports?" So many candidates would answer "Yes, I play sports every day." The answer may sound grammatically correct, but it fails to earn them a decent score on the IELTS Speaking test. In fact, with this type of question, it is expected that candidates would apply the order of forming responses similar to the following model:
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Step 1: Forming the answer
Say how frequently you do the activity the examiner asks you about.
Explain why you do it that frequently.
Step 2: Applying language skills to exlicit the answer
Use a range of different adverbs of frequency correctly. I play badminton very often. I never go skiing.
If candidates follow the recommended steps of forming the answer, their responses will be more coherent and well structured. Based on this high-scoring formula, an expected response may be "I play sports a few times a week. Usually I play basketball with my friends, but sometimes I play football instead. I think team sports are a great way to socialise and keep fit." Compared to the answer "Yes, I play sports every day," this response is clearly richer and more detailed in content, and more accurate and natural in using language expressions.
Once you have mastered this high-scoring formula, all questions which start with "How often…?" will be solved easily. For example, "How often do you eat in restaurants?, How often do you go for a long walk?, How often do you take public transport?", etc.
Just in the same manner, a good grasp of 31 essential high-scoring formulas in this book can allow candidates to answer every IELTS Speaking test question with confidence and great effectiveness.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS or A NUMBER for each answer.
STUDENT HEALTH CENTRE MEDICAL RECORD
Example Answer Patients name: Martin Hansen
Faculty of 1__________________
Address: 13 2________________ Street, Perth
Telephone: 3__________________
Date of Birth: 15th June, 1986
Serious illness/ accident: 4__________________
Operations: 5__________________
Allergies: 6__________________
Questions 7-9
Circle the correct letters A-C.
7. Why is Martin visiting the doctor?
A. He suffers from headaches. B. He suffers from nausea. C. He has an infection.
8. How many hours does Martin usually sleep each night?
A. Less than eight. B. Between eight and nine. C. More than nine.
8. Which of these describes Martin’s problem?
A. It’s continuous and constant. B. It's worse during the daytime. C. It's worse in the evening and at night.
Question 10
Circle TWO letters A-E.
10. Which of these things does the doctor suggest Martin should do?
A. change his diet B. have his eyes tested C. sleep more D. take more exercise E. take some medicine
SECTION 2
Questions 11 -20
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
ARTISTS EXHIBITION
General details
Place: 11_
Address: 1,12_
Dates: 6th October to 13_
Display details
jewellery
furniture
ceramics
14
sculpture
Expect to see:
crockery in the shape of 15______________
silver jewellery, e.g. large rings with 16________________
a shoe sculpture made out of 17_______________
Go to demonstrations called 18 “________________"
ARTISTS CONSERVATORY
Course include: Chinese brush painting
19______________
silk painting
Fees include: studio use
access to the shop
supply of 20__________________
SECTION 3
Questions 21-23
Circle the appropriate answer.
21. Dave thinks the last tutorial
A. was exciting and Sarah disagrees. B. was not exciting and Sarah disagrees. C. wasn’t very interesting and Sarah agrees. D. was good and Sarah feels she has to agree.
22. Sarah states that she understood
A. a very small part of the tutorial. B. all of the tutorial. C. most of the tutorial, but parts of it were incomprehensible. D. none of the tutorial.
23. Sarah and Dave have just attended a tutorial on
A. study skills for English Literature. B. reading in literature. C. writing in literature. D. general studies.
Questions 24-2
Listen and complete the table below with the appropriate numbers.
Sarah
Dave
Terry
Arnold
pages per hour
25-30
24_________
120
25__________
books per week
1
26_________
27__________
20
Questions 28-30
Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each blank space, complete the sentences below.
28. Terry thinks it is important to develop one’s reading speed to______________.
29. Terry felt _______________after his first tutorial with Dr. Pratt.
30. When Terry first arrived at university, his reading speed was___________________pages per hour.
SECTION 4
Complete the summary.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answers.
COASTAL ZONE INQUIRY
Sneaker: Kevin Ackrovd from the 31____________
Background:
Problem: The recant. 32 put extreme pressure on 33_________________
Contributing factors:
economic development
34___________________
industrial expansion
35___________________
Two particularly important factors:
36________________ is likelv to continue.
Industry, especially tourism which competes with 37_________________ farming industries.
Conclusions:
Need to
raise profile of coastal zone
exercise greater vision
38____________________
Recommendations:
Need for
long-term view
broad view
modem 39_______________
consultation with 40__________________
Answer keys:
Section 1, Questions 1-10
Medicine
Chatham
01734 24655
(a) broken leg/broke leg
none/no (operations)
dust (and) cats
A
B
C
B (and) E
Section 2, Questions 11-20
Royal Museum
Queen’s Park Road/Rd
10th December/Dec.
metalwork
(garden) vegetables
coloured stones
(white) paper 1$ Face to Face
pencil drawing
all materials
Section 3, Questions 21-30
D
C
A
60 -70 (sixty to seventy)
160
one/1
three/3
suit the circumstances
so inadequate
twenty-five/25
Section 4, Questions 31-40
Department of Environment
population shift/urban expansion/ population growth/expansion
coastal environment/environment of coast/natural resources/ water resources
34. aging population
government policies
urban sprawl/urban expansion/growth
(intensive) fish and shellfish
adopt (a) national approach/ nationwide coordination
management and practices
people affected/people concerned
BONUS EXERCISE: GAP-FILLING
The texts below are transcript for your IELTS Listening Practice Test. To make the most out of this transcript, we removed some words from the texts and replaced with spaces. You have to fill each space with the missing word by listening to the audio for this IELTS listening practice test.
There are three reading passages that will help you to practice the reading test. There are also sample question and answers which you can go through in order to get a high band in IELTS examination.
READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-16, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
MOBILE PHONES AND DRIVING
Though once perceived a luxury cell phones have become a common possession over the last ten years or so. Due to modern-day technology and public demand cell phones have been made affordable to most. However, one of the most controversial topics of today is whether or not we should be using our cell phones whilst driving, Does it pose a danger to ourselves and other drivers? Or doesn’t it make any difference to the likelihood of an accident?
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Several countries around the world have already imposed a national Jaw with heavy infringements. More recently the UK, Australia, and Finland have joined the ranks of countries opposing this very hazardous act, with Ireland imposing the harshest penalties on the continent (a third offense can mean 3 months imprisonment). Also in Europe, the Netherlands is fining offenders 2000 Euros and 2 weeks in jail.
This dangerous distraction contributes largely to motor vehicle accidents and the statistics are Increasing daily as we continue to take our eyes off the road to call or even more dangerously text. Research by road safety groups suggests speaking on a phone whilst driving increases your chances of an accident, increasing to nine times more likely when texting. Time and again, in study after study replicated across the world, the use of a cell phone by the driver has been proven, beyond any sense of reasonable doubt, to dramatically increase the probability of a motor vehicle crash.
In New Zealand, a proposal made by a previous Labor-led Government suggests a $50 fine and 27 demerit points for any person using a cell phone whilst driving, although the Ministry of Transport is still preparing a report based on public consultation. Although this is only a pending idea, the government knows this will be a difficult infringement to police but a start needs to be made and people need to understand the consequences of what potentially could happen. It is a common misconception that hands-free kits are safe to use, but research conducted by Waikato University has proven that these can be equally as dangerous as handheld phones.
On one hand, using a cell phone whilst driving has become an integral part of our lives and is going to be a hard habit to kick. But it has been proven that our reaction time is never fast enough when confronted with a road hazard, but if you are having a conversation at the same time it will slow your reaction time by even more. Most people find It takes 2 and a half seconds to react in a dangerous situation but if you are on the phone you can add another 2 seconds onto that. Your attention is divided; part of you concentrates on your conversation, the other on driving. The demands of die conversation and the road are competing, therefore making it a cognitive distraction as well as physical as you are removing one hand from the steering wheel to hold the phone. On the other hand, an American radio host suggested that banning cell phones whilst driving was taking it a step too far, “if we ban cell phones, what's next? No billboards, coffee drinking, or CD players?” The host agreed that texting whilst driving was a danger but phoning was not.
Many people agreed with him in saying that texting was a definite hazard as the act of looking down would lead your eyes off the road. However, doesn't holding a conversation while driving seems just as distracting as eating food or reaching for a CD? Accidents were happening decades before the cell phone was introduced so should we be taking this matter so seriously?
Obviously opinions will differ on this matter, and it will always remain a debatable issue. A long list of countries seems to be following the trend and imposing a law against cell phones on the road, but there is still an even longer list yet to follow. Lack of data leaves uncertain results but it seems research is ongoing and surveys and tests are being carried out on a regular basis to reach some kind of conclusion as to just how dangerous and potentially fatal this habit may be.
Questions 1 – 6
Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A – G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B – G from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i-x in boxes 1-6.
List of Headings
Impact of mobile phones in hazards
Texting statistics
International reactions
Further research required
Evidence from around the globe
Challenges of enforcement
A global agreement on penalties
Contradictory data
Risks of talking to passengers
Balancing the risks
Paragraph B
Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph E
Paragraph F
Paragraph G
Questions 7 – 11
Look at the following list of statement (questions 7-11) based on 'Mobile phones and driving’
Match the statement with the correct person or department A-E.
Ministry of Transport
Road safety groups
Waikato University
American radio host
The New Zealand government
is currently putting together feedback from the general public.
proposed specific penalties for mobile phone use while driving.
statistically proven the higher likelihood of an accident.
believes any use of a phone while driving has potential risks.
speaking on the phone is an overrated risk.
Questions 12 – 16
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 12-16 an your answer sheet write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts with the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
The law in Ireland regarding mobile phone use while driving is the world’s most serious.
According to research conducted by road safety groups, speaking on a phone makes an accident nine times more likely.
Reaction times in an emergency are doubled if the driver is using a mobile.
Eating while driving is statistically as dangerous as using a mobile.
More research is required to form a clearer conclusion.
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 17-29, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
THE EIFFEL TOWER
High above the city of Paris the Eiffel Tower looks over the thousands of tourists that visit her each day. One of the greatest sites in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was erected in 1889 for the great Paris Exposition.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Statue of Liberty, put his design-forward amongst 700 other designs and Eiffel's design was chosen collectively without any further thought. The decision was made to build this radical creation and two years later it was completed. Eiffel had originally decided to build the tower in Barcelona, for the Universal Exposition of 1888, but organizers and planners in Barcelona thought it was a bizarre and expensive construction, which did not fit into the design of the city.
After the design and build of the Eiffel Tower was confirmed for Paris, a petition was signed by over 300 names to fight against the building of this project. These names included Parisian architects, engineers and famous citizens of Paris. Eiffel was heavily castigated for his design and was accused of designing something for its appearance and artistic appeal with no regard to engineering; opponents to the building claimed that the design did not have sufficient stability to withstand the high winds its height would be exposed to. But Eiffel and his team of ex bridge builders understood the importance of wind forces, and the shape of the tower was largely decided by a mathematical calculation involving wind resistance.
French painters, sculptures and writers did not see the beauty in the tower and referred to it as useless and monstrous. However, the Eiffel tower was admired by many notable people (Rousseau was particularly impressed) and construction began in 1887 and was soon completed by the end of 1889. In 1909 it was almost demolished because of the expiration of its 20-year lease but was saved due to its antennas used for telegraphy at the time, With such a difficult beginning to the Tower. It is now internationally recognized and is a symbol of Paris completely accepted and valued by its French Citizens.
It took 300 workers and 15,000 pieces of iron to complete this massive landmark which now stands at 320 meters tall. With three different levels, the third and highest level offers panoramic views of the City of Paris and sits 276 meters above the ground. Today all three levels of the Eiffel Tower are observatory platforms. The first level offers a souvenir kiosk, gallery and restaurant. The second level offers telescopes, shops and another restaurant with even more spectacular views, the third offers a gallery featuring the history of the Eiffel Tower; a wax reproduction of Gustave Eiffel and his original office restoration. Although stairs are still available, lifts commonly take passengers to all three of these levels.
On a dear day, you can see as far as 67 kilometers across Paris. More than 300,000,000 people have visited the Tower since its completion in 1889 making it one of the most visited monuments in Europe.
Every seven years, the Eiffel Tower is repainted with 50 to 60 tonnes of paint to protect its framework from rust. So that the Eiffel Tower appears the same color at each level when viewing it from the ground up, the Tower is painted in three different shades of the same color. The bottom painted with the darkest brown and the lightest at the top of the tower. At the time of its completion, the Eiffel Tower was the world’s tallest structure until New York's Chrysler building was completed in 1930.
Today more than 500 hundred people operate the day to day running of the Eiffel Tower. Each and every day the Eiffel Towers 335 spotlights and 20,000 bulbs create a glistening effect and at night the Eiffel Tower lights up the city of Paris and is a sight not to be missed by anyone. The Tower lights up every evening from sunset to lam, coupled with the lighthouse on the top that sends out its light beams during the same hours. As recognizable as a night time picture of the Tower is, rulings made in the early 1990s actually made copyrighted the illuminated image, Unless it is taken as part of a wider panoramic view, the image is protected under French law. The argument is that the arrangements and display of the lighting constitutes an original visual creation, much as a major work of art, and thus should be entitled to the same degree of protection, The ruling was and remains highly controversial, with concerns that an innocent tourist taking a photograph of the tower at night is potentially breaching copyright.
Questions 17 – 19
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 17- 19 on your answer sheet
The Eiffel Tower was
A. first built in Barcelona.
B. the only design considered.
C. selected by one man.
D. built-in time for an exposition.
In Paris, some people
argued that it was too expensive.
wrote letters against the project.
thought it would not last in the environment.
believed there was not enough room for the design.
The Eiffel Tower
is 276 metres tall.
has a souvenir shop on the third floor.
has two restaurants.
is the oldest monument in Europe.
Questions 20 – 22
Complete the summary using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 2 for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 20 – 22 on your answer sheet
Despite some opposition, construction of the tower was concluded by 20_______________ . It was almost dismantled in the early 1900s as its 21______________ had expired, but was kept because of an 22______________ used for telegraphic transfers.
Questions 23 – 29
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answer in boxes 23 – 29 on your answer sheet.
Which famous person championed the construction of the Eiffel Tower?
On what floor of the tower can gifts be bought?
What is the most common way of accessing the three floors?
Protection from what requires the tower to be painted so often?
The Tower is painted using three shades of brown so that it appears what?
What was taller than the Eiffel Tower in 1930?
When are the illuminations switched on?
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 30-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
HAZARD MANAGEMENT
In many industrial or manufacturing workplaces, managing hazards is essential for a successful health and safety system. Hazard management is an ongoing process that goes through five different stages, with each step becoming a stage on a tire hazard management plan.
The first step is to identify potential hazards, remembering that hazards are classed as anything that could potentially cause harm not only to people but also to the organization. To illustrate, an industrial accident can cause an injury to employees, but can also result in lost production, broken machinery and wasted resources for the company, In many cases, local and national government legislation has strict regulations concerning hazard identification, and in many industries, especially those perceived to be dangerous, severe penalties can be incurred by companies overlooking such hazard identification.
Having identified the potential hazards, the next step is to assess the hazard; that is, to consider to what extent they are significant. To a degree, this is a subjective aspect of risk management, as what may be seen by one person to be a significant issue can be seen by another to be an acceptable feature of a workplace. To allow for a degree of uniformity, in this stage, hazards are rated using risk assessment tables. These tables work by assigning a point value to three areas. The first is the exposure score, which assesses how often people are exposed to the hazard. If this is a continuous risk which employees face all the time, the score will be high; if the exposure is very rare, the points given will be substantially lower, The score is then multiplied by the likelihood of this hazard causing an injury, ranging from ‘Definite’ (it happens all the time) down to 'Unlikely' (it hasn't happened yet). This is referred to like the chance rating. The sum of the first two scores is again multiplied by the effects score, which considers how serious any accident might be. This can be rated from 1 (requiring minor first aid) right up to multiple deaths (classed as a disaster ). All 3 scores then give the final risk assessment result. Generally, a result in excess of 100 points requires caution, but a result of 200 hundred or more is classed as a high priority. Certain jobs are, for the most part, permanently gamer scores of over 200 (firefighting, for example) and in many cases, additional payments, informally known as 'danger money', are applied.
The third step on the hazard management plan is to control hazards that have been identified. There are 3 stages to hazard control. The first aim is to eliminate the hazard – that is, to get rid of it altogether. This can be achieved by removing debris or unnecessary obstacles from the workplace. Often, however, this is not possible, so the next step is to isolate the hazard, to store it out of the way. For example, a cleaning company cannot completely eliminate hazardous chemicals, but they can keep these chemicals locked away until required. Isolating hazard is an ongoing process that requires companies to have very dear and enforced guidelines regarding the safe storage of potentially hazardous products.
If the hazards cannot be isolated, then the aim must be to minimize the risk. This is achieved through staff training in safe handling techniques and best practices, as well as the provision of personal protection equipment (PPE). PPE commonly includes items such as gloves, overalls and footwear with steel reinforced areas.
The fourth and fifth steps on a hazard management plan are connected – to record and review’ the hazard. The recording is done in the hazard register, and this register is continually reviewed to ensure best practices are maintained. If a severe accident does occur in the workplace, it is the hazard register that investigators often first turn to, to see if the issue had previously been reported and if so what the company had done about the hazard.
It is worth noting that since the more rigorous application of hazard management systems, workplace accidents have experienced a significant decline in many industries previously identified as 'high risk’.
Questions 30 – 31
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your glower in questions 30 and 31 on your answer sheet.
The 5 stages of the managing hazards are put together like what?
Damaged machinery and discarded resources are two examples of hazards to what?
Questions 32 – 37
Complete the summary using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 3 for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 32 – 37 on your answer sheet
To mathematical calculate risk assessment, 32_____________ stages need to be calculated. The exposure score considers the amount of time employees spend working near the hazard. The 33____________ then measures the probability of an accident, ranging from not likely to 34____________ .The results are then 35_______________ by each other, and then again by the degree of seriousness of an accident. The highest 'effect' score is given when more than one person is killed (this is rated as a 36___________). When calculated, a result of 200 or more is considered 37_____________ .
Questions 38 – 40
Complete the flowchart
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 3 for each answer.
STAGES OF HAZARD CONTROL
1st step is to 38_________________ if possible
⇓
Locate the hazard ( e.g. 39______________ it out of the way)
⇓
40____________ hazard by wearing protective clothing and following safety training
ANSWER KEY FOR IELTS READING PRACTICE TEST
III
The text talks about a number of different countries (international) and how they are responding to the problem (reactions).
V
The paragraph refers to conclusions drawn from surveys (evidence) from around the world (the globe)
VI
The paragraph refers to the government believing that measures will be difficult to enforce.
I
The paragraph talks about the specific reduction in reaction speed when using a mobile phone at the time of an accident.
X
The paragraph talks about other activities that happen during driving but still potentially pose a risk.
IV
The paragraph refers to differing opinions linked to lack of data, thus further research is required.
A
'The Ministry of Transport is still preparing a report based on public consultation'
E
‘In New Zealand, a proposal made by a previous Labor-led Government suggests a $50 fine and 27 demerit points’
B
'Research by road safety groups suggests speaking on a phone whilst driving increases your chances of an accident, increasing to nine times more likely when texting'
C
‘It is a common misconception that hands-free kits are safe to use, but research conducted by Waikato University has proven that these can be equally as dangerous as handheld phones’
D
‘An American radio host suggested that banning cell phones whilst driving was taking it a step too far’
Not Given
The text states that it is the harshest ‘on the continent’. This may mean the harshest in the world, but we are not expressly given that information.
False
The text states that it increases to nine times while texting, meaning that speaking must be lower than that.
False
‘Most people find it takes 2 and a half seconds to react in a dangerous situation but if you are on the phone you can add another 2 seconds onto that – not doubled (2.5 + 2.0)
Not Given
It is phrased as a question, not research.
True .
‘Lack of data leaves uncertain results’
D
‘the Eiffel Tower was erected in 1889 for the great Paris Exposition.’
C
‘…opponents to the building claimed that the design did not have sufficient stability to withstand the high winds its height would be exposed to’
C
‘The first level offers a souvenir kiosk, gallery, and restaurant. The second level offers telescopes, shops, and another restaurant.’
1889
‘More than 200,000,000 people have visited the Tower since its completion in 1889,’
Lease (NOTE: 20-year lease would be acceptable, but 20-year lease would not because of the number of words)
‘In 1909 it was almost demolished because of the expiration of its 20-year lease’
Antennas
‘…but was saved due to its antennae used for telegraphy at the time'
Rousseau
‘the Eiffel tower was admired by many notable people (Rousseau was particularly impressed)
1st
‘The first level offers a souvenir kiosk’
Lift
‘Although stairs are still available, lifts commonly take passengers…’
Rust
‘Every seven years, the Eiffel Tower is repainted with 50 to 60 tonnes of paint to protect its framework from rust'
The same color
‘So that the Eiffel Tower appears the same color at each level when viewing it from the ground up, the Tower is painted in three different shades of the same color'
Chrysler Building
‘…the Eiffel Tower was the world’s tallest structure until New York’s Chrysler Building was completed'
Sunset
The Tower lights up every evening from sunset to 1 am
Hazard management plan
'five different stages, with each step becoming a stage on the hazard management plan'
The organization
‘…the organization…can also result in lost production, broken machinery and wasted resources for the company'
Three
‘These tables work by assigning a point value to three areas’
Chances rating
‘…the likelihood of this hazard causing an injury…is referred to as the chances rating.’
Definite
‘…ranging from ‘Definite’ (it happens all the time) down to ‘Unlikely’ (it hasn’t happened yet).'
Multiplied
'The score is then multiplied’
Disaster
‘multiple deaths (classed as ‘disaster’).'
High priority
‘a result of 200 hundred or more is classed as high priority’
Eliminate
‘The first aim is to eliminate the hazard
Store
‘the next step is to isolate the hazard, to store it out of the way’
Minimize
‘minimize… through staff training in safe handling techniques and best practices, as well as the provision of personal protection equipment (PPE).'
New Delhi | Mumbai: The $5.7 billion Facebook-Reliance Jio deal needs to be scrutinised by the country's competition watchdog, mainly from the point of view of data that the combined entity will control, top government officials and industry experts told ET.The two companies are "data elephants" in terms of controlling private data of Indians, and together the combined reach of Reliance Jio, Facebook and its messaging app WhatsApp would provide undue advantage against rivals, be it other technology giants like Google and Amazon or even local startups, according to the people cited above.Anshuman Thakur, strategy head at Reliance Jio, told ET that RIL would shortly approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for approval. As per company officials, CCI approval is the only regulatory clearance needed.A top government official said that the two companies would control a lot of data of consumers."…we need the law to scrutinise the deal from the data advantage point of view and not just money or market share," said the official who did not want to be named. "Data is becoming a factor to reckon competitiveness and therefore the data aspects of the competition law need to be sharpened and revisited," the person said. 75310457Analysts Seek More TransparencyAnalysts have sought more transparency in how Facebook and Jio will function."The government needs to look into the data-sharing agreement between these two parties and it should be made transparent to both consumers and the government," said Neil Shah, vice president at Counterpoint Research. "One needs to look into intrusive advertising. Since they are using WhatsApp channels for digital commerce, it opens up transaction details of these SMEs to a foreign company. It needs to be clarified that once FB gets access to the millions of Jio users, how will it use (the information)?"Another official said that India's telecom regulator is looking at the implication of the deal for consumers as well as other telecom companies."Our legal and regulatory systems needs to grow in independence, strength and maturity to tackle the risks of concentration of market/network power," said Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), which ran the Save The Internet Campaign against Facebook's Free Basics programme."Today, competition law does not consider any privacy rights related harms which emanate from market concentration in information societies that are exaggerated by power and information asymmetries. These power asymmetries and lack of real consumer choice are spurred by network effects which characterise digital markets," Gupta said.Jio has emerged as India's largest telecom player with over 388 million subscribers within three years of its launch. Facebook has over 328 million users in India accessing its social network every month, while WhatsApp is present on over 400 million smartphones and is the most used messaging platform in the country.'NO DATA SHARING'"Access to data is an interesting aspect of this deal, these two companies are like two elephants and the combined entity may have an unfair data advantage," said the government official cited above. "Once WhatsApp and Jio join (hands), they may end up killing all competition and distort fair market practices."Ajit Mohan, MD of Facebook India, however told ET that there would be no data sharing in this deal.CCI approves investments and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by examining the market share of the entities involved in a transaction. It can however take suo motu action if it sees cartelisation or if there is a complaint that a company or grouping has higher concentration of market power."There is a policy gap and CCI should address this gap—how can one (set of companies) have all the data… After that, who will be able to compete in the market with them," pointed out one official who spoke to ET on the condition of anonymity. "Whether it is payments or retail, the combined entities will concentrate too much power in their hands, then how are we going to regulate that?"Researcher IDC estimates India has around 450 million smartphone users, and over 600 million internet users which makes it the second largest online market in the world, ranked only behind China.Facebook has been keen on a stronger foothold in India for nearly a decade despite setbacks. In 2016, India's net neutrality laws forced it to abandon Freebasics - internet firms giving preference to select sites. Separately the Indian government has been pushing WhatsApp to allow traceability of messages on its platform to curb rumours. WhatsApp has also not been able to fully operationalise its payment app that runs on the open source UPI platform due to regulatory concerns over storing user data locally.Interestingly, both firms have businesses that could compete each other. While WhatsApp Pay is awaiting government nod, Reliance already has JioMoney. On the ecommerce side too there are multiple overlaps, while Reliance operates in the online space through Ajio and is close to launching JioMart in partnership with kiranas, Facebook also has Marketplace – a platform for buyers and sellers. For its part, WhatsApp has also launched WhatsApp for Business which allows small sellers to host their catalogue on the app as well as integrate payments seamlessly.Government officials will also watch out for any violation of net neutrality rules once the integration with Jio and Facebook products is completed."At present we don't have any laws on OTT (over-the-top) regulation in the country and this deal will have to be analysed from a larger angle. Obviously there are concerns if Facebook products including WhatsApp tend to work better on a Jio network ? However, this possible violation of net neutrality can only be observed once the deal comes through," said a senior Telecom Regulatory Authority of India official.
BENGALURU: Technology startups are likely to cut hundreds of jobs over the next 6-8 months, as demand stutters amid tight funding, top venture capitalists and founders told ET.Much of the layoffs will stem from distress sales and company closures, the people said. "We are going to see a continuous layoff for the next 12 months... Most companies have done one round of layoffs already," said Anand Lunia, founding partner at India Quotient.Layoffs may speed up year-endMultiple internet businesses — including Oyo, BlackBuck, Treebo, Acko, Fab Hotels, Meesho, Shuttl, Capillary, Niki.ai, Swiggy and Fareportal — have on average cut workforce by 30%, including temporary staff, in the past one month.Many others, such as Ola, Zomato, Zoomcar, MakeMyTrip, Chaipoint, Cashify, Livspace and Shopmatic, have reduced pay by as much as 50%, while a few have withdrawn job offers, according to data shared by Big.Jobs, a crowdsourced jobs portal.The retrenchments will likely speed up year-end when many businesses initiate merger talks or fold up, said Rutvik Doshi, managing director of Inventus Capital India.Initially, the Covid-19 outbreak hit early and growth-stage startups, data showed, but it is now impacting larger businesses as well."We've predicted that the next quarter will be a washout… but a month longer than that and the economics of the business change," said the founder of a growth-stage consumer business. "I predict it could lead to at least a 20% further cut," he said. Getting his business back to levels prior to the outbreak could take as long as two years, he added.The worst-hitRetail, hospitality, travel, mobility and financial services — worst affected by the pandemic — will see maximum job cuts. More than 600 businesses have downsized staff in the past one month, while a further 660 have cut salaries, according to Big.Jobs."Blue-collar jobs in the SME sector have been hit the most in the past two weeks; over 10 crore people have fallen into unemployment. For white-collar jobs, the crisis has only begun and is currently concentrated in a few sectors and VC-backed companies," said Himanshu Geed, cofounder of the jobs portal.In the next few months, large companies are expected to start restructuring and resort to trimming staff in a bid to go lean. This will be further propelled by a shift towards automation and artificial intelligence. "A few hundred thousand will likely be laid off in the white-collar segment in the next few quarters, mostly driven by large traditional companies," Geed added.
New Delhi: The World Bank expects remittances to South Asia will drop 22% this year, underscoring the economic distress stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown aimed at curbing the disease. This reflects loss of income for expatriate Indians working in the Gulf and elsewhere who support families back home in Kerala and other states at a time when the local economy is at a near standstill.India is the world's biggest recipient of remittances, which bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves and help fund its current account deficit.In 2019, India is estimated to have received $83.1 billion in remittances from people working overseas, about 12% of the total expected global inflow. The country has foreign exchange reserves of $476 billion, which has helped provide stability despite large portfolio outflows.Globally, remittances are projected to decline by a record 20% this year from a high of over $714.2 billion in 2019, the World Bank said in a release on Tuesday. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, it said.South Asia gets 22% of global remittances, which amounted to $122.4 billion last year. 75310407Adverse Impact on LMICThe World Bank did not release country-wise details but its estimate for South Asia showed a decline by 22% to $109 billion. India's neighbours such as Pakistan and Bangladesh also have a substantial number of nationals working in the Middle East and elsewhere.The sharp decline in crude prices will hurt remittances from oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The decline in flows is likely to have an adverse impact on remittance-dependent countries and low and middle-income countries (LMIC) where remittances are a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households, the World Bank report said."The ongoing economic recession caused by Covid-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies," said World Bank Group president David Malpass. "Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs."Remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to be sharper. In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs exceeded FDI, the World Bank said.Money transfers meanwhile remain expensive."The global average cost of sending $200 remains high at 6.8% in the first quarter of 2020, only slightly below the previous year," the report said.
MUMBAI: "Can I catch up on some sleep just for a few hours," was the first message Anshuman Thakur typed to a senior colleague around on noon right after he finished a media call with Ajit Mohan, Facebook's head in India.Thakur, a former telecoms rainmaker at NM-Rothschild-and-Morgan Stanley-turned-head of Strategy and Planning at Reliance, had been up on the phone since 4 am, fine tuning the final raft of documents hours before Facebook announced its strategic $5.7 billion partnership with Reliance early on Wednesday early morning.A muggy Mumbai night coupled with the excitement of bringing home a deal that has been on the works for over a year made it equally hard to switch off totally in the final hours. And this was by far the most high profile deal of Thakur's career. The fact that it was getting baked bang in the middle of a global pandemic had added to the complexity.And truth be told Corona had tripped up the plans. Well almost.Meet At Menlo Park Stands CancelledThakur was to fly to Facebook's headquarters at Menlo Park along with his bankers, lawyers and colleagues on 16th of March to start crucial negotiating with his Facebook counterpart Raj Singh after the non-binding term sheet got signed in January.A secret code name – Project Redwood -- was also conjured up for the core deal team of around 30, perhaps in sync with its deep California connect. Just like Sycamore, Sequoia or Oregon Ash, Box and White Adler, Redwood is a popular tree to native California, home to Facebook. The Silicon Valley poster boy last September also had expanded its corporate home spending a billion dollars with a 525,000 square-foot new swanky building building called MPK 21, that was designed by architect Frank Gehry to seat about 3,000 employees. The redwood forest in a courtyard and the 3.6-acre rooftop garden along with a tiered outdoor amphitheater akin to a botanical garden had etched deep resonance to many.But suddenly the world was under lockdown. Skies were getting shut, borders sealed. The dreaded pandemic was everwhere. Till then it was relatively smooth. Legal, tax dilligence had begun in full earnest by February under the watchful eyes of RIL old hand K Raja Ramachandran. Commercial deal was completed prior. By then, lawyers --- AZB and Davis Poke for Reliance, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Hogan Lovells for Facebook had joined tax auditors PWC and the two lead bankers Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.Reliance and their advisors at Morgan Stanley, led by Michael Grimes, their global co-head technology investment banking had opened up the data room around second week of March. From India, telecoms-media-technology banker Kamal Yadav was acting as the pointsman on ground but a face to face meeting was absolutely essential "to connect the dots and cross the tees."Thakur did not speak to ET for this story that was pieced together after talking to at least half a dozen people who were directly involved.A Virtual Project RedwoodThe lockdown suddenly threw everything out of gear. "Only VCs were the way out," said an official involved. The first such "virtual meeting" after the aborted March meeting took place around the weekend before Prime Minister Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on March 25th."The aim was to make the announcement by March 31st." quipped another deal insider. "That did not happen but we are not far out either." Reliance too needed some good news. For seven years chairman Mukesh Ambani had been on a $100 billion spending spree expanding petrochemicals and building out the world's largest 4G telecoms network. But a bloated balance sheet was becoming a headache. A deal with Aramco has been still hanging as is its $8 billion Brookfield InvIT transaction.A new technology partner for Jio to leverage the commerce and retail backbone that Reliance was banking on to break the bank was the right medicine the doctor had ordered. Preliminary discussions with Google had also taken place but the search giant wanted a chunkier trade and bigger rights. It fell through early on.Zoom Calls & Blue JeansWhat followed was weeks of intense dealmaking via video conferencing via Blue Jeans and Zoom in spite of the time difference between Mumbai and California."Manoj Modi would only come in to fill in the big strategic issues. Even on Facebook side, they would circle back with Zuk (Zukerberg)," said another official. "Once at around 8 am IST and again around 9 PM IST, we would regroup to thrash out the nitty gritty," said officials in the deal team. "Afternoons would be relatively free or would wrap up outstanding issues." Even then, uncertainties on the global macro picture loomed ominously in the backdrop. Facebook was convinced about the long term strategic fit but "all of a sudden, discussions on valuations also included the impact of the lockdown on business, turnaround timelines what happens if the lockdown continues," added another official.Deal DynamicsMorgan Stanley had came into the picture in the second half of last year having missed out on the Aramco mandate. The Wall Street bank had advised Sony last year when Zee Entertainment was in play. That deal fell apart but Morgan got Sony to talk to Reliance to merge the entertainment business as well. That deal is also in the final laps.But sources say Mukesh Ambani and Mark Zukerberg had initially toyed with the idea of a collaboration almost 14 months back. Gen Next Akash and Manoj Modi, Mukesh's consigliere, were also part of the A Team to front the dialogue. Ajit Mohan's appointment as an MD and Country Head in India, added heft to their presence and reaffirmed the commitment. "No longer would anyone blame us for not investing enough dollars in India," quipped an official. "This cheque should silence many."
Mumbai: Jaguar Land Rover has put about half of its 40,000 employees in the UK on furlough and its chief executive Ralf Speth and his senior management team have taken a 10-30% pay cut for one quarter, as the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns globally have crippled business.The Tata Motors-owned luxury-vehicle maker is seeking to utilise a UK government wage bill scheme for the furloughed employees. Under the 'Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme', the British government will pay 80% of workers' wages, up to 2,500 pounds per month, if they are put on leave. This facility is being used by many businesses in the UK to save jobs.A Tata Motors spokesperson said the UK subsidiary had furloughed all roles that were not critical. The JLR CEO has also confirmed that he and the executive leadership team will defer salary payments for the next three months, the spokesperson said.75311120FY19 Wage Bill 11.6% of Revenues"At this stage, this affects around 50% of our UK workforce. For those on furlough, we are topping up wages to protect 100% base salary during April and continue to monitor the situation. Sir Ralf will take a 30% reduction, the board of management a 20% reduction and executive leadership team a 10% reduction," added the spokesperson.As of March 2019, JLR had 44,101 employees globally. It paid £2.82 billion, or 11.6% of revenue, in wages in fiscal 2019, including payments towards social security and pension, according to the company's annual report. The average salary was £63,944. It also paid £3.19 million to directors.In the first nine months of fiscal 2020, JLR spent £1.94 billion, or 11% of revenue, towards wages. With continuing shutdowns in the UK and elsewhere adding to worries over volumes that were already contracting, the savings from the furlough and salary cut for top executives will only offer a marginal help in containing cost.The retail volume of the JLR, excluding its joint venture in China, fell 30% in the fourth fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020. The fall was 42.6% for the Jaguar brand while for Land Rover, it was 25.6%. All JLR manufacturing facilities, except for in China, are currently closed. In China, it restarted production in February, after the Covid-19 crisis came under control in that country.With the lower production in the fourth quarter, the company is unlikely to attain its cost saving target of 400 million pounds under the 'Project Charge Plus'. Jaguar Land Rover had also guided for a capital expenditure of up to 4 billion pounds in FY21. Given the steep fall in sales and uncertainty about the future, it may now have to relook at the plans.The Tata Motors spokesperson said the British subsidiary was working towards an orderly return to production as soon as conditions permitted and was tightly managing all costs and investments, as well as working capital.The company had cash of £3.9 billion on its books and undrawn revolving credit facility of £1.9 billion at the end of December 2019. It had debt of £6.07 billion, with repayment of £481 million scheduled for 2020.
NEW DELHI: The ministry of tourism clarified that it has not issued any letter on closing of hotels and restaurants till October 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, as purported in a WhatsApp message doing the rounds. The ministry said the message was false and that it has lodged a complaint in this matter with the cyber-crime unit of the Mumbai police. Anybody found to be circulating, publishing or spreading the fake news would be held liable under applicable laws."The respective authorities are empowered to take suitable action against such individuals including but not limited to initiation of criminal proceedings under relevant laws," the ministry said on Wednesday.The fake letter circulating on WhatsApp states that hotels, restaurants and resorts all over India will remain closed till October 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak and that this order had come from the tourism department.The ministry stated that it had already issued denials on social media platforms and the Press Information Bureau's fact-checking unit had also called the message fake a few days ago, but the message continues to circulate.
LONDON: Whether or not Opec+ oil producers formally agree to extra oil output curbs, rapidly filling storage capacity and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis may force them to cut more.With crude consumption collapsing, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, a group known as Opec+, is due to implement a deal to cut supply by a record 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from May 1.But that unprecedented deal to withdraw about 10% of global supply already looks inadequate when demand has plunged by as much as 30% and the world is possibly just weeks away from running out of storage space for the surplus.Vopak, the world's biggest independent storage company, said on Tuesday its tanks were almost full.Tanks at Cushing, the delivery point for the US crude futures contract, might not yet be full but any available space was already booked, analysts and traders said."We have to cut down, ... with or without Opec output cut deal," Mele Kyari, the head of Nigeria's state-owned oil firm NNPC Group, told the African nation's Premium Times newspaper.He said Nigeria would have to cut production because it was hard to find anywhere to put the oil.An Opec source told Reuters it was "logical" to expect the market to force more cuts on Opec+ producers.As much as 17 million bpd of supply could be taken out of the market this spring, estimated Jim Burkhard at IHS Markit, a research firm, due to production cuts and other shutdowns.Energy Aspects expects imminent shut-ins in the United States to amount to at least 1.3 million bpd, in addition to cutbacks already announced by the United States this month when Opec+ was working on its deal.'UNCHARTED TERRITORY'"The deep contango will now compel oil producers to reduce output immediately, financially and logistically," Energy Aspects wrote, referring to a market structure where spot prices are lower than prices for oil delivered at a later date - which usually encourages storage unless there is no space left.The consultancy forecast US production would decline by 710,000 bpd year on year in 2020."We are in uncharted territory. Everything is possible, including the unbelievable," an Opec+ source said on whether members of the group could be forced to make even deeper cuts.Rystad Energy's analyst Christopher Page estimated about 400 million barrels of crude storage capacity remained available, much of it in the United States, while stocks were building at a rate of 26.5 million bpd in April.If that rate holds, it could exhaust global storage capacity in a little more than two weeks."While the Opec cuts will help, they are limited, and the global storage availability picture now looks grim for June," Page said.Meanwhile, Opec is already looking at further steps, less than two weeks since forging its last deal.Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it was ready to take extra measures along with Opec+ allies and other oil producers, and Iraq echoed that position, although Russia was more cautious.But there are already signs of producers around the world being forced to take action for economic reasons. EnQuest last month became the first British producer to shut North Sea fields in the wake of the price slump."Once all available storage capacity is utilised physical shut-ins will be required to balance the market," said Redburn Energy in a report. "This may have to happen rapidly."
In our previous note, we had categorically pointed out that despite a gap that was created, it may be insignificant and may not have bearish implications as it had occurred with an area pattern. While continuing to trade on the dotted lines on Wednesday, Nifty saw short-covering at lower levels and ended the day with gains. After opening on a flat note and trading without any directional bias initially, Nifty started to move higher and stayed on a rising trajectory throughout the day. Although it came off a bit from the highs, the index ended the day with gains of 205 points, or 2.29 per cent.Volatility declined compared with the previous day, and volatility index INDIA VIX, came off 5.25% to 42.8225. Nifty continues to stay within the area formation of a Rising Wedge pattern. Owing to the placement of the index within this formation, the intraday range is likely to get narrower as we go ahead.The lead indicators of internal strength continue to languish, and that will make Nifty vulnerable at each level it climbs, until the current pattern gets resolved. The market may see a stable start on Thursday, and weekly options expiry is going to dominate the session. The 9,225 and 9,390 levels will act as immediate overhead resistance for Nifty, while supports will come in at 9,110 and 9,050 levels.The Relative Strength Index or RSI on the daily chart stood at 46.46; it remains neutral and does not show any divergence against price. The daily MACD remains bullish, as it trades above the signal line. A White Body emerged on the candles; and no other formations were noticed on the charts. 75299320Weekly options data show maximum Put open interest buildup at 9,000 level. It means this level is expected to play out as a reliable support on the downside. The market up-move has been on the back of short coverings, and this calls for protecting profits at each up-move. We would advise staying stock-specific in approach until the current pattern gets resolved with a directional bias.(Milan Vaishnav, CMT, MSTA, is a Consulting Technical Analyst and founder of Gemstone Equity Research & Advisory Services, Vadodara. He can be reached at milan.vaishnav@equityresearch.asia)
New Delhi | Mumbai: The $5.7 billion Facebook-Reliance Jio deal needs to be scrutinised by the country's competition watchdog, mainly from the point of view of data that the combined entity will control, top government officials and industry experts told ET.The two companies are "data elephants" in terms of controlling private data of Indians, and together the combined reach of Reliance Jio, Facebook and its messaging app WhatsApp would provide undue advantage against rivals, be it other technology giants like Google and Amazon or even local startups, according to the people cited above.Anshuman Thakur, strategy head at Reliance Jio, told ET that RIL would shortly approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for approval. As per company officials, CCI approval is the only regulatory clearance needed.A top government official said that the two companies would control a lot of data of consumers."…we need the law to scrutinise the deal from the data advantage point of view and not just money or market share," said the official who did not want to be named. "Data is becoming a factor to reckon competitiveness and therefore the data aspects of the competition law need to be sharpened and revisited," the person said. 75310457Analysts Seek More TransparencyAnalysts have sought more transparency in how Facebook and Jio will function."The government needs to look into the data-sharing agreement between these two parties and it should be made transparent to both consumers and the government," said Neil Shah, vice president at Counterpoint Research. "One needs to look into intrusive advertising. Since they are using WhatsApp channels for digital commerce, it opens up transaction details of these SMEs to a foreign company. It needs to be clarified that once FB gets access to the millions of Jio users, how will it use (the information)?"Another official said that India's telecom regulator is looking at the implication of the deal for consumers as well as other telecom companies."Our legal and regulatory systems needs to grow in independence, strength and maturity to tackle the risks of concentration of market/network power," said Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), which ran the Save The Internet Campaign against Facebook's Free Basics programme."Today, competition law does not consider any privacy rights related harms which emanate from market concentration in information societies that are exaggerated by power and information asymmetries. These power asymmetries and lack of real consumer choice are spurred by network effects which characterise digital markets," Gupta said.Jio has emerged as India's largest telecom player with over 388 million subscribers within three years of its launch. Facebook has over 328 million users in India accessing its social network every month, while WhatsApp is present on over 400 million smartphones and is the most used messaging platform in the country.'NO DATA SHARING'"Access to data is an interesting aspect of this deal, these two companies are like two elephants and the combined entity may have an unfair data advantage," said the government official cited above. "Once WhatsApp and Jio join (hands), they may end up killing all competition and distort fair market practices."Ajit Mohan, MD of Facebook India, however told ET that there would be no data sharing in this deal.CCI approves investments and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by examining the market share of the entities involved in a transaction. It can however take suo motu action if it sees cartelisation or if there is a complaint that a company or grouping has higher concentration of market power."There is a policy gap and CCI should address this gap—how can one (set of companies) have all the data… After that, who will be able to compete in the market with them," pointed out one official who spoke to ET on the condition of anonymity. "Whether it is payments or retail, the combined entities will concentrate too much power in their hands, then how are we going to regulate that?"Researcher IDC estimates India has around 450 million smartphone users, and over 600 million internet users which makes it the second largest online market in the world, ranked only behind China.Facebook has been keen on a stronger foothold in India for nearly a decade despite setbacks. In 2016, India's net neutrality laws forced it to abandon Freebasics - internet firms giving preference to select sites. Separately the Indian government has been pushing WhatsApp to allow traceability of messages on its platform to curb rumours. WhatsApp has also not been able to fully operationalise its payment app that runs on the open source UPI platform due to regulatory concerns over storing user data locally.Interestingly, both firms have businesses that could compete each other. While WhatsApp Pay is awaiting government nod, Reliance already has JioMoney. On the ecommerce side too there are multiple overlaps, while Reliance operates in the online space through Ajio and is close to launching JioMart in partnership with kiranas, Facebook also has Marketplace – a platform for buyers and sellers. For its part, WhatsApp has also launched WhatsApp for Business which allows small sellers to host their catalogue on the app as well as integrate payments seamlessly.Government officials will also watch out for any violation of net neutrality rules once the integration with Jio and Facebook products is completed."At present we don't have any laws on OTT (over-the-top) regulation in the country and this deal will have to be analysed from a larger angle. Obviously there are concerns if Facebook products including WhatsApp tend to work better on a Jio network ? However, this possible violation of net neutrality can only be observed once the deal comes through," said a senior Telecom Regulatory Authority of India official.
KOLKATA | MUMBAI | NEW DELHI: India Inc will reset its workspaces once work resumes after the lockdown, with large-scale behavioural and physical space alterations on cards. Businesses are set to redefine seating at offices in accordance with social distancing norms, introduce shift-based work, go virtual with meetings, ramp up cleaning protocol with frequent sanitisation and provision of hand sanitisers, and reintroduction of access cards in place of biometric, company executives said. The post-Covid-19 workplace will also have a large number of employees working from home, they said.The ministry of home affairs had last week issued new rules of work from an office (WFO), making social distancing mandatory in offices and shop floors alike. Business is in preparation mode to reflect the new normal at work. A host of companies ET spoke with, including ITC, Hindustan Unilever, Dabur, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra, Microsoft, RBS Services, and Micron India, are incorporating new norms with employee safety as their prime focus. Businesses also expect the use of office workspace to be drastically different from pre-Covid era, where optimising the use of office space was essential. At ITC, social distancing measures include a roster-based system of presence at the workplace, staggered meal timings with seating demarcation at least six feet apart, ensuring adequate space between workstations, restriction of gatherings in common areas, increased spacing between seats in meeting rooms, demarcated standing areas at entry and exit points and within elevators, and restrictions on the movement of employees between floors. Amitav Mukherji, head of corporate human resources at ITC, said the company will not allow external visitors inside the office premises and, if a visit is necessary, then it will only be allowed in specially designated rooms.IT major Capgemini plans to call only less than 10% employees who are working on extremely critical client projects to office. "95% of our workforce is working from home and we will continue with that for few more weeks until we are sure that it is safe for our employees to travel and come to work every day," said Venkat Neelakantan, vice president and regional head of corporate real estate services, Asia Pacific, at Capgemini.Tech Mahindra has started drawing boxes on the floor in lift areas as well as inside lifts to facilitate social distancing even as most its employees continue to work from home. At all offices and even in washrooms, it has demarcated space to help employees maintain social distance, a company spokesperson said. The country's largest consumer products maker HUL will follow the necessary safety protocols such as hygiene, sanitation and social distancing whenever it decides to restore normalcy, a company spokesperson said. At Dabur, which has had three factories for essential goods running through the lockdown, these processes are already mostly in place. A Sudhakar, head, human capital, said Dabur plans to open more factories after necessary clearances. All this is adding up to significant expenses but "'protect employees first, expenses are secondary' is the message going out from senior management," he said. For its part, Microsoft is providing real-time guidance to employees as the Covid-19 situation continues to evolve in India. "At this time, only a small number of employees who perform essential services continue to be on-site at our offices. We will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary action to help protect employees," a company spokesperson said.IT firm Micron India is strictly compartmentalising the lines of movement of employees to avoid contact with each other, its managing director Anand Ramamoorthy said.Innovation and operations hub for Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS Services India is working to follow the new safety norms and is removing biometric access and managing with access cards. PLus, with an increased focus on work from home, there will be greater investment in improving home infrastructure from health and safety perspective, said HR head Maneesh Menda.
DA hike implementation for 1.13 crore govt employees, pensioners may be postponed The April salary, which is due to be paid in a week's time, was supposed to be based on revised DA, along with arrears for three months (January-March).
NBCC moves NCLAT challenging NCLT order on Jaypee Infra resolution plan The NCLT also allowed JIL's fixed deposit holders, who have not filed their claims within the statutory timelines, to continue their claims even after approval of the resolution plan.
HC protection to Indiabulls Housing Finance: MFs see no immediate cause of worry Fund houses such as HDFC MF, Baroda MF, Nippon India MF, PGIM MF and UTI MF have exposures to debt papers issued by the Indiabulls Housing Finance, shows the data from Value Research.
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