The Happy Egg Co, which specializes in free-range eggs, has invented an automatic pancake machine just in time for Shrove Tuesday. The device consists of a range of household objects including an old gramophone, an electric mixer and, of course, a frying pan. The process starts when the hen lays an egg. The egg is then carried along a conveyor belt. Next, it is cracked open and mixed with the other ingredients. Finally, the mixture is poured into the pan, cooked and flipped onto a plate. The device is not for sale: it’s going to be exhibited at London’s Design Museum in the near future. In any case, pancakes are fun and easy to make by hand.
Do you know how to make pancakes? You can find out here and download a recipe.
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Read by Elizabeth Wyke (English Accent)
Study the words
free-range– from animals which are not kept in cages household– domestic gramophone– old-fashioned record player mixer– machine used for combining ingredients frying pan– flat-bottomed pan used for frying food lays– produces carried– taken conveyor belt– moving platform cracked– broken poured– dispensed flipped– quickly thrown device– machine exhibited– displayed in the near future– soon
Do the takeaway test: The Automatic Pancake Machine
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The internet is rife with cat videos. Now another feline has become an internet sensation. This time, the amazing pet can do a typical magic trick – to guess which cup contains a bell, even after they are mixed up at top speed. We have seen cats that play the piano, surprised cats, fat cats, talking cats and even cats with i-pads. Dogs, however, are catching up. They can do tricks too, like walking on two legs and playing dead. The latest star is a clever dog that taught a puppy how to go safely down the stairs. There’s no doubt that both cats and dogs are clever and cute, and maybe sometimes we prefer them to people.
What’s your favourite cat or dog video?
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Read by Annette (Scottish Accent)
Study the words
Rife– very common, numerous Sensation– star Magic trick– playful deception Guess– deduce Mixed up– placed in a different order At top speed– very quickly Catching up– reaching the same level Playing dead– pretending to die Puppy– young dog Doubt– uncertainty Cute– sweet, adorable
Do the takeaway test: Cats and Dogs Online
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See more pet videos here: The Telegraph
If you ever find yourself in an Australian forest, don’t be surprised if a parrot swears at you. Across Australia, people are reporting that wild parrots are talking to them and that they are not always polite. In fact, some wild birds have learned to speak English and in particular, to use expletives. It is thought that the language skills have been learned from pet birds that escaped from their cages and returned to the wild. The wild birds have picked up the new sounds and have even taught them to their offspring. The result is a weird chorus of English nonsense high in the treetops.
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Read by Tina Williamson (Australian accent)
Study the words
Swears – uses bad language Polite- civil, well-mannered Expletives- bad language, vulgar expressions Pet- domestic (animal) Skills– abilities The wild- the natural habitat Offspring- babies Weird- strange Nonsense- language with no meaning Treetops- the highest branches of the trees
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to i-tunes podcast) here
Do the takeaway test: Wild Parrots Learn to Swear
Related articles:
Escaped per birds are teaching wild birds to speak English
A new i-pad app specifically designed for cats, called ‘paint for cats’, allows your pet to chase a mouse and make a painting at the same time. The makers, Hiccup, recently got into trouble when cats playing with another app accidentally downloaded premium content without the consent of their owners. The firm was accused of tricking cats into making purchases. The problem was solved by introducing a function which requires owners to scan their hand on the i-pad screen for four seconds to prove that they are human. Apps for cats have more or less the same function as they have for humans: they stop cats from getting bored and make them look cool too!
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Read by Annette
Study the words
Pet– domestic animal
Chase- run after
Got into trouble– had problems
Accidentally– by mistake
Premium content– extra functions that you pay for
Consent– approval
Firm– company
Tricking…into– using an unfair method to persuade them to do something
Prove– demonstrate
Getting bored– feeling dissatisfied because you have nothing to do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_jPZXL_P6c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Do the takeaway test: Does your cat need an ipad
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to itunes podcast) here