Joe and Anna

BEGINNER
Part 1

"I’m very lucky because I don’t work on Mondays. On Mondays, at 10 o’clock, I go swimming with my friend, Andy. I know Andy from school and we have been friends for more than fifteen years. We usually swim for about two hours, and then we go for lunch. I normally have pasta, but sometimes, if I’m very hungry, I will have a hamburger too. Andy likes pizza with ham and mushrooms."
"After lunch Andy has to go to work. He is a fireman, so he works very strange hours. I spend the rest of my day writing. At the moment, I’m writing a novel. It’s about a family that has a very naughty, mischievous dog, who is always getting into trouble. He causes lots of problems for the youngest boy in the family. I want the story to be funnier, but it is very difficult to write a funny story. I thought it would be easier."
"Come back next week and I will tell you all about my girlfriend, Anna."

The Giant Panda

BEGINNER

The Giant Panda

Panda bears can usually be found in western China. Human population growth and farming means there are not many giant pandas left in the wild. Pandas are dying out because of one main reason: habitat loss. Their main source of food is bamboo, which takes a long time to grow. They can also eat honey, eggs, fish, oranges and bananas, but bamboo makes up 99% of their diet. More than half of the Pandas' bamboo forests have disappeared since 1974. As forests are being cut down, it is more difficult for the pandas to find food. A report in 2007 said that there are 266 pandas in captivity and some reports say that the number of pandas in the wild is about 2,000.

Some things to think about... What can we do to protect endangered animals like the Giant Panda? Do you think putting animals in captivity is a good way to help them? How would you feel if someone took away your food supply? Have you ever seen a panda bear? If not, why not?

Michael Jackson

EXPERT

News Report: Michael Jackson's Death

Pop star Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles at the age of 50.
Doctors were called to Jackson's house on Thursday lunch time in America after he stopped breathing. The singer was taken to hospital, where doctors spent more than an hour trying to get him breathing again, but were unable to.
Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to start a series of comeback concerts in London on 13th July. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, later said the star was believed to have suffered heart attack.
Speaking for Jackson's family Jermaine, said: "The family request that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time.
"And Allah be with you Michael always. I love you."
Often called the King of Pop, Jackson will be remembered as one of the greatest entertainers of all time, having sold more than 250 million albums around the world.One of those, Thriller, is still the biggest-selling album ever, selling 61 million copies. That's almost one copy for every single person living in the UK.
But Jackson will also be remembered for living an unusual life as he got older, often wearing masks when he appeared in public.
He has three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, 12, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11, and six-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II.
In 2003 Jackson was arrested for hurting a 14-year-boy, but after a trial lasting five months, he was found not guilty.
Jackson had been scheduled to start a massive series of 50 concerts in London on 13th July, with all 750,000 tickets already sold. Fans with tickets will get their cash refunded.

Some things to think about... Why do famous people often like to hide from the media? What are the pressures of fame and show business? How can those pressures affect your health? How did Michael Jackson's death affect his popularity? How would you react to the media spotlight? Do you enjoy being the centre of attention?