1) English Around the World
New Zealand English is unique because it includes many words borrowed from the Māori language, which is one of the country’s official languages. These words are widely used in daily conversations, media, and even official documents. For example, “kia ora” is a common greeting meaning hello or thank you, “whānau” means extended family, “kai” means food, and “Pākehā” refers to New Zealanders of European descent. These Māori words are not seen as foreign but as part of everyday New Zealand English. This feature highlights the strong cultural connection between English and Māori, making New Zealand English truly distinctive.
2) English Idioms
– Five common idioms and their origins:
– The ball is in your court – From tennis; now it means it’s your turn to act.
– Kick the bucket – From a wooden beam once called a “bucket” used in slaughter; today it means to die.
– Break the ice – From ships breaking ice to open trade; now it means starting a conversation.
– Bite the bullet – Soldiers once bit bullets during painful surgery; today it means facing something hard with courage.
– Spill the beans – From Greek bean-voting; today it means revealing a secret.
3) Historical Mystery
Area 51 is a secret U.S. Air Force base in Nevada. For decades, it has been surrounded by mystery because the government did not officially admit its existence until 2013. Many theories try to explain what happens there. One popular theory is that the U.S. military hides evidence of aliens and UFOs, including the supposed crash in Roswell in 1947. Others believe Area 51 is only used to test new military aircraft and advanced technology, such as stealth planes. I support the second theory. It seems more realistic that the base is for secret weapons research, not aliens.
4) Story Writing
One night I was walking home alone. It was very dark and the street was empty. Suddenly, I heard steps behind me. I turned around, but nobody was there. My hands started to shake. The steps came closer and closer. Then I saw a black shadow. It had no face and it moved very slowly. I wanted to run, but my legs did not move. The shadow lifted its arm and reached for me. At that moment, I screamed – and I woke up in my bed. It was only a dream.