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Easy English News

September 03, 2010

We're moving

Early next week, this site will be moving to become part of the main Bangkok Post website. This move requires a lot of preparation, so I will not be posting new material here. Instead, I'll give you some examples of lessons that will appear in my new book that will be published shortly.

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:40 AM

The news here is the same that you will find in the Bangkok Post except that it is much easier. I've included some of the vocabulary of the original stores, so you can learn several new words every day. Notice that you can listen to the text with the audio player below. You can also download the soundfile and play it back on your mp3 player.

twitter

Click button to listen to Complaint and rightclick to download

A view from a visitor

The Bangkok Post’s letter’s to the editor section is always a good read, and sometimes the comments for our foreign readers are especially interesting.

Today, you will get a chance to hear both American and British English. The introduction is American (me) and the main text is in British (a neighbour of mine). Once again, exercises following the vocabulary.

Are things really that bad?

postbag In today’s Postbag section, there is an angry complaint from an Englishman with a Thai wife about the treatment they received from Thai police during their five-week holiday in which they have driven over 4,000 kilometres on local highways. Do you think things are really as bad as he says they are?:

“While our holiday has been wonderful there has been one aspect that has put me off driving in Thailand ever again. We have been stopped by the police eight times. With six of those I have been fined for a variety of motoring offences including speeding, not carrying the vehicle registration document and a minor traffic violation in Bangkok.

“However, only once have these fines been legitimate and paperwork issued. All the other fines have been reduced amounts paid to the officer who stopped us to avoid me having to relinquish my licence and pay a more expensive but legitimate fine at a location way off our course. In other words, a bribe.

“I was fined 400 baht on the way to Koh Chang for speeding but was well under the 90kph speed limit. The police didn’t even have a radar or any proof I was speeding. I was simply stopped, told I was doing over 90kph and asked for 400 baht. I paid, of course, as being a foreigner I had no wish to get into any further trouble, but this is blatant corruption by the police. No paperwork is issued and the policemen in question keep their hands well inside the car when receiving their bribe so as not to be seen taking money.

“It’s not just me who was stopped. The false speeding violations were aimed at all drivers who approached the checkpoint — 400 baht is quite a lot of money for me to pay out on a false charge, but for a Thai, it must be equivalent to a day’s wages. Do the police have no conscience? How do they sleep at night knowing that they are exploiting both foreigners and their own people?

“I am disgusted by this as are my Thai family who are clearly intimidated by the police here and frightened to question their behaviour. Is this a secret? Is the government aware? Everyone I speak to, whether Thai or farang has experience of such treatment by the police so why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?”

RICHARD

complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
aspect – one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc ด้าน,มุม
fine – an amount of money that you have to pay because you have broken the law ค่าปรับ
offence – a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment การกระทำความผิด
minor – not important; small; having little influence or effect เล็กน้อย
violation – an action that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc. การฝ่าฝืนกฎหมาย
legitimate – allowed by the law, or correct according to the law ชอบด้วยกฎหมาย
reduced – lowered
relinquish – to give up something ปล่อย,ละทิ้ง
bribe – money or a present given to someone so that they will help you doing something dishonest or illegal สินบน
blatant – in an obvious or open way โจ่งแจ้ง โอ้อวด อึกทึก
in question – the person or thing that is being discussed
equivalent to – equal to; the same as เท่ากับ
wages – an amount of money that you earn for working, usually according to how many hours or days you work each week or month ค่าจ้าง
conscience – the part of you that judges the morality of your own actions and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for ความรู้สึกผิดชอบชั่วดี,สัมปชัญญะ
exploit – to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for yourself หาประโยชน์จาก
disgusted – strong feeling of disapproval and dislike at a situation or person's behaviour, etc ซึ่งน่าสะอิดสะเอียน, ซึ่งน่ารังเกียจ
intimidated - frightened or nervous because you are not confident in a situation ทำให้กลัว
aware – knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing ทราบ

Getting the facts

Read each of the following statements and decide whether they are true or false.

Choose the best answer for each of the following.

1. The writer is complaining about his recent holiday in Thailand because

a. he was stopped for speeding eight times

b. he was forced to give up his driving license so he couldn’t drive here anymore.

c. he feels that Thai police treated him unfairly many times

d. All of the above are correct.

2. The writer says that

a. the police only followed proper procedures once.

b. he once refused to pay a fine because the police had no proof.

c. the police were clearly looking especially for foreigners to stop.

3. According to the writer,

a. It is cheaper to pay a police officer than to go to the police station and pay a fine and do the paperwork.

b. Police officers on the roads can finish the necessary paperwork for traffic violations more quickly than those at police stations.

c. Paperwork is not required for traffic violations in Thailand

4. The writer accused the police of

a. taking bribes

b. being corrupt

c. behaving in an intimidating way

d. All of the above are correct.

Vocabulary practice

Use words from the vocabulary list above to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You may have to change the form of some of the words to fit the sentence

1. He wanted to steal that car, but his _____________ told him it was not right to do so.

2. Anyone who wanted to stay overnight at the camp had to _________ their weapons at the entrance.

3. He claimed his passport was __________ but it was easy to see that it was not.

4. He had to pay a _______ of 2,000 baht for leaving the country after his visa had expired.

5. The official was so slow doing our paperwork that we suspected he wanted us to pay him a __________.

6. They were very __________ at the poor service they received at the restaurant.

7. The unusually high cost of the housing project and the poor building materials

used were __________ examples of corruption.

8. The _________ at her new job were not very good, but at least she now had enough money for food.

Answers:

Getting the facts: 1. d 2. a 3. a 4. D

Vocabulary practice: 1. conscience 2. relinquish 3. legitimate 4. fine 5. bribe 6. disgusted 7. blatant 8. wages

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:24 AM

September 02, 2010

This is an example from my new book that is in the final stages of production. The story originally appeared on our site in October of 2009. The reader is from New Zealand, so the accent is quite different from my American accent. Notice there are also exercises at the end..

Click button to listen to Crab condos and rightclick to download

Cheap condos

United Nations Development Programme administrator Helen Clark, right, watches on Tuesday as an official puts together a “crab condominium” at Koh Loy Park pier in Chon Buri’s Si Racha district. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

One of the country’s cheapest “condominium” projects is located near a pier in Si Racha, Chon Buri. That is because the condos are not designed for humans, but for pregnant crabs.

They consist of small, plastic, square-shaped buckets which are stacked in a row and tied to a raft. One pregnant female blue swimmer crab is placed in each bucket and kept for about two weeks when she releases anywhere from 300,000 to 800,000 eggs into the sea. This increases the likelihood of the eggs hatching, boosting the local crab population.

The United Nations Development Programme is full of praise for the project

‘‘Restoring the habitat of the crab population is very good for local fishermen so that crabs can go back to the system and provide a more sustainable supply to the people,’’ UNDP administrator Helen Clark said this week.

Ms Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, said she had seen the crab condominium management team demonstrating how they took care of pregnant crabs in the sea near the Koh Loy Park pier in Si Racha district.

The team led by Kaek Sillapachai began the project in 2006 by buying female blue swimmer crabs and placing them in the buckets.

Nitiphat Poypradub, an officer with the Si Racha Fisheries Research Station, said there had been no scientific survey of the increased crab population but people could see for themselves that, after a few years of having two crab condominiums near the pier, the crab catches were becoming larger and there were abundant blue swimmer crabs on sale at the market.

‘‘If we could save 1% of the billion crab eggs [hatched] every year, that is a big number and we could have a long-term supply of crabs and consumers could buy them cheaper with a more sustainable supply,’’ said Mr Chatchai, who helped begin the crab project after the success of a green mussel condominium launched nearly a decade ago.

Adapted from a story by Achara Ashayagachat in today’s Bangkok Post.

pier – a platform sticking out into water which people walk along or use when getting onto or off boats สะพานที่ยื่นออกไปในน้ำ
pregnant – having a baby developing inside the body ท้อง ตั้งครรภ์
stack – to put things on top of each other in an ordered pile วางตั้งซ้อนกัน, กองซ้อนกัน
raft – a small light flat boat made of wood, rubber or plastic แพ เรือแพ
release – to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere ปล่อย
likelihood – the chance that something will happen ความเป็นไปได้
hatch – the birth of a lot of insects or animals from eggs ออกจากไข่
boost – to increase เพิ่ม
population – all the animals or plants of a particular type or group who live in one country, area or place กลุ่มพืชและสัตว์ที่อาศัยอยู่ในบริเวณหนึ่ง
restore – to cause a particular situation to exist again, especially a good one ฟื้นฟูสภาพ
habitat – the type of place that a particular animal usually lives in or a particular plant usually grows in ถิ่นที่อยู่ของพืชหรือสัตว์
sustainable – able to be successfully continued for a long time ยั่งยืน, ถาวร
demonstrate – to show something and explain how it works สาธิต
abundant – more than enough มากมาย
consumer – someone who buys and uses goods and services ผู้บริโภค
mussel – a small sea animal that can be eaten and which lives inside a black shell with two parts that close tightly together หอยจำพวกหอยแมลงภู่
launch – to start something เปิดโครงการ, เริ่มต้น, เริ่มทำ
decade – a period of ten years ทศวรรษ

Getting the facts

Read each of the following statements and decide whether they are true or false.

1. The housing in this story was designed for crabs.

2. It is designed to keep females from being attacked by males.

3. Most eggs laid by female crabs do not survive.

4. A single female crab lays hundreds of thousands of eggs.

5. The Si Racha Fisheries Research Station has proven that the crab population in the area has increased as a result of the project.

6. The crab project is the first to use the condominium approach.

Vocabulary practice

Use words from the vocabulary list above to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You may have to change the form of some of the words to fit the sentence.

1. The eggs are collected before they can _________.

2. It took a full _________ – 1997 to 2007 for the project to begin.

3. She had to ____________ the process for all to see before they had the confidence to begin.

4. The floated down the river on a _________.

5. Fish are still ___________ several kilometres off shore, but villagers are worried the big fishing boats will soon arrive.

6. The natural _________ of the tigers has decreased significantly in recent years.

7. Hunting in such large groups is clearly not ___________.

8. The _________ stretched almost a kilometre over the sea.

Answers

Getting the facts: 1. true 2. false 3. true 4. true 5.false 6. false

Vocabulary practice: 1. hatch 2. decade 3. demonstrate 4. raft 5. abundent 6. habitate 7. sustainable 8. pier

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:07 AM

September 01, 2010

Click button to listen to Thaksin photo and rightclick to download

“Alive and well”

This photo of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra taken with former South African president Nelson Mandela was a subject of much discussion on the Internet yesterday.

There was a big debate about whether it was real or “photoshopped”, i.e., doctored to appear real using the popular software program.

One reason for the disbelief is that there have recently been rumours that Mr Thaksin was seriously ill and staying in nearby Brunei. His month-long silence – his last twitter posting was July 26 – only added to the suspicion that the rumours might be true.

Yesterday’s release of two photos, the second taken with Mr Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, was clearly an attempt to quash those rumours.

Mr Thaksin’s spokesman Noppadon Pattama, who circulated the pictures during a press conference, said Mr Thaksin was in excellent health but had stayed out of the spotlight to avoid stirring up controversy and facilitate reconciliation.

Mr Thaksin was keen on bringing about reconciliation in Thailand and his meeting with Mr Mandela, Africa’s model reconciliation statesman, was to tap the latter’s experience, Mr Noppadon said. He also insisted that the photos were authentic.

He did not say when the photo with Mr Mandela was taken but said the photo with Mr Mandela’s former wife was taken on Friday.

Mr Noppadon said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s present visit to Montenegro as part of the government’s attempts to have Mr Thaksin extradited were in vain as Mr Thaksin had been granted citizenship. This made extradition unlikely.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday Mr Thaksin was definitely in good health and was not in any country close to Thailand. Mr Somchai said Mr Thaksin phoned him on Sunday to wish him a happy birthday.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Aekarach Sattaburuth.

ousted – forced out of a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ
doctor – to change a photo, document, tape, film, etc. in order to deceive people ปลอมแปลงเพื่อหลอกลวง
appear – to seem ดูเหมือนจะ, ดูเหมือนว่า
disbelief – the feeling of not believing someone or something, especially something shocking or unexpected ความไม่เชื่อ
rumour – a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true ข่าวลือ
suspicion – a belief that a crime has been committed ความสงสัย
quash – to stop something from continuing ปราบ, กำจัด (ข่าวลือ, กรต่อต้าน) ยกเลิก
circulate – to send to many different people หมุนเวียน
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
spotlight – the centre of public attention จุดสนใจของผู้คน, เป็นที่สนใจ
stir up – to make someone feel upset or angry ก่อให้เกิดความขุ่นใจ
controversy – a strong disagreement, especially about a public policy or moral issue ความขัดแย้ง ประเด็นข้อขัดแย้ง
facilitate – to make it possible or easier for something to happen ทำให้สะดวกขึ้น
reconciliation – a new and friendly relationship with someone who you argued with or fought with การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก, การสมานฉันท์
keen – very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much สนใจ, ใจจดใจจ่อ
statesman – an experienced political leader that many people respect รัฐบุรุษ
tap – to get or make use of something ใช้เป็นประโยชน์
latter – used for referring to the second of two people, things, or groups that have just been mentioned อันหลัง,ครึ่งหลัง,ส่วนที่สอง
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
authentic – real, not false or copied ของแท้
extradite – to officially send back someone who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed for a trial ส่งตัวกลับ
in vain – without success ไม่สำเร็จ
grant – to officially give something ให้
citizenship – being a member of a particular country and having rights because of it ชนชาติ, ความเป็นพลเมือง

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:20 AM

August 31, 2010

Click button to listen to High fees and rightclick to download

When free is not free

Wai Kru ceremony at Kanchanapisek School in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum.

Thailand 15-year free public school system is not universally free. The Ministry of Education does allow schools to collect additional fees under certain conditions.

First, the fees are supposed to be suitable and approved by the school’s committee. Secondly, the school is also required to seek the consent of students and parents.

Students and parents from Kanchanapisek School in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum are complaining that these conditions were clearly not met in the school’s massive fee increase this year.

The school is under fire for increasing its fees by up to 65% — in ‘‘flagrant disregard for the government’s 15-year free education scheme’’, a group representing students say.

About 10 students and parents from Kanchanapisek School yesterday lodged a complaint with Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat calling on him to investigate the school for allegedly collecting high tuition fees from both boarding and non-resident students.

They claimed the tuition fee had increased by between 33% and 65% without their consent. New Mathayom Suksa 1 (Grade 7) students are suffering the most, paying 42,000 baht a year in tuition fees.

The school has cited higher expenses from setting up IT rooms and hiring foreign teachers to justify the increases. Each student has to pay 2,500 baht to use IT services and another 500 baht to be taught by foreign teachers.

However, the school had not provided enough computers for all students, a student representative said. And no foreign teachers had been hired.

The students and parents also complained that the school had failed to hand out free textbooks provided by the government to students.

They also accused it of providing students with low-quality lunches with rotten fruit. Most school buildings were dilapidated, they said.

The school’s executives could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Sirikul Bunnag.

universally – including all situations; involving or affecting everyone โดยทั่วไป
fee – an amount of money that you pay to be allowed to do something ค่าธรรมเนียม
condition – something that must be done before another thing can happen เงื่อนไข
suitable – acceptable or right for someone or something เหมาะสม
consent – to give permission to do something ยอมให้ทำ, อนุญาต
massive - very large in size, amount or numberใหญ่โต
under fire – being criticised strongly กำลังเป็นที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์, กำลังโดนโจมตี
flagrant – done in an obvious way that shows you do not care if you break rules or offend people ที่ปรากฏชัด, ชัดๆ, ที่เห็นได้ชัด
disregard – not respecting something or considering it important ความไม่เอาใจใส่, ความเฉยเมย, ความเพิกเฉย
scheme – a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people แผนการ โครงการ
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim ยื่นคำร้อง ยื่นฟ้องต่อ
investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
tuition fees – money paid to attend classes ค่าเล่าเรียน
boarding (school) – of a school where students can live as well as study โรงเรียนกินนอน
resident – living in a particular place พักอาศัย
suffer – to be badly affected by a very difficult or unpleasant situation ประสบความลำบาก
cited – to mention as an example, explanation or proof of something else อ้าง, กล่าวอ้าง
hire – to pay someone to work for you จ้าง
justify – to show that there is good reason for something แสดงเหตุผลที่ดีพอ
rotten – spoiled; decayed เน่า เสีย
dilapidated – old and in bad condition ซึ่งชำรุดทรุดโทรม
comment – expressing an opinion แสดงความคิดเห็น

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:57 AM

August 30, 2010

Click button to listen to Logging and rightclick to download

Worse than it seems

One of the best measures of how much illegal logging is taking place in the country has long been thought to be the number of arrests of those transporting illegal wood.

Those arrests have fallen in recent years, so things must be getting better, right?

Not according to a recent report by the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime (NREC) Division. The fall in arrests is actually a result of wrongdoers finding ways to conceal their illegal activities.

NREC chief Misakawan Bura said ‘‘nai tun’’, or financiers, are helping to keep the illegal business flourishing. These influential businessmen have secretly occupied more land.

‘‘These nai tun are everywhere,’’ Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said. ‘‘They range from the plain rich to the super rich and from influential gangsters to politicians at both local and national levels, who all have forest land under their occupation.’’

The officer admitted police hardly ever arrest these wrongdoers because of the ‘‘tricks of laws’’ they cunningly employ.

logging2

Provinces identified by police as areas at risk of illegal logging and forest encroachment.

The NREC chief said the financiers normally use landless villagers or foreign labourers as ‘‘tools’’ for their land acquisition plots. They send these people into forest areas to occupy the land and turn it into farm land.

The nai tun promise they will help contact state agencies to enable them to use the land and will be responsible for any requirements to help them settle on the encroached land.

The nai tun will then wait until land rights documents are issued to the occupants before buying the plots from them.

‘‘This process is nothing new and it has been widely reported by the media,’’ Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said.

So although there has been less news about the illegal export of logs, the sound of chainsaws and trees being felled in the forests nationwide has never ceased. Forest land is being turned into farmland in the North, mines and rubber plantations in the Northeast, and palm tree plantations and even luxury tourist resorts in some scenic locations in the South, Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Wassayos Ngamkham.

illegal – against the law อย่างผิดกฎหมาย
logging – the work of cutting down trees for wood อาชีพการตัดไม้
arrest – (of the police) to take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม
transport – to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง
financier – a person or an organisation that manages, provides or lends large amounts of money ผู้จัดหาเงินทุนให้, ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเกี่ยวกับการเงิน,นักการคลัง
flourish – to grow or develop successfully เจริญรุ่งเรือง, เจริญเติบโต
influential – of a person who has the power to affect a situation มีอิทธิพล
occupy – to work or live on a piece of land อาศัยอยู่ใน, ครอบครอง
range – to have an upper and a lower limit in amount, number, etc ผันแปรภายในขอบเขตหนึ่ง
plain – ordinary; with nothing added ธรรมดา
gangster – a member of an organised group of violent criminals สมาชิกของแก๊งอาชญา, อันธพาล, นักเลง,
hardly ever – seldom แทบจะไม่, ไม่ค่อยจะ
cunning – clever at planning something so that you get what you want, especially by tricking other people; orof things that are cleverly made for a particular purpose เจ้าเล่ห์, ฉลาดแกมโกง
employ – to use ใช้
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
encroachment - gradually covering more and more of an area of land การบุกรุก
acquisition – the process of buying something; something that has been bought การซื้อ, การได้มาซึ่งการเข้าถือสิทธิ์
plot – (1) a secret plan to do something bad แผนการลับ (2) a piece of land used for a particular purpose ที่ดินแปลงเล็ก
issue – to give or provide something officially แจกจ่าย
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
chain saw – a tool used for cutting down trees, with a blade consisting of a set of connected metal points that are driven round very fast by a motor เลื่อยที่มีใบเลื่อยหมุนต่อเนื่องกันโดยใช้มอเตอร์ ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ตัดต้นไม้ใหญ่
cease – to stop จบ, ยุติ
plantation – a large farm where crops such as tea, coffee, cotton, sugar or, in this case, trees, are grown ไร่ นาขนาดใหญ่
scenic – providing beautiful views of nature สวยงามอย่างธรรมชาติ

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 10:40 AM

August 27, 2010

Click button to listen to Weighty and rightclick to download

Weighty problem

Amnuayporn Thongprapai, weighing almost 275kg, greets members of the public after she is lifted from her third-floor apartment in Kannayao district by an elevator. APICHART JINAKUL

Getting 40-year-old Amnuayporn Thongprapai from her third floor room to hospital was not just a matter of calling an ambulance.

It took a special hydraulic elevator, a large pallet on wheels and the dismantling of her room’s balcony.

You see, Ms Amnuayporn weighs almost 275kg and she can’t walk.
In fact, before yesterday, she hadn’t left her room in three years.

She was badly in need of help. According to Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who was present during the transfer, she has high blood pressure in addition to her weight problems, two cysts on one leg and bedsores.

Doctors believe her condition was caused by an abnormal function of the thyroid gland.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukhavetchavorakij said a team of doctors headed by the BMA General Hospital director would care for Ms Amnuayporn.

Her hospital stay is expected to last for one year and will be paid for by City Hall.

Ms Amnuayporn used to earn a living doing laundry and selling food at her apartment, where she lives in Bangkok’s Kannayao district with a relative's children, Sathaporn Charoensap,15, and his younger brother Sakulsak, 14.

The boys study in Mathayom Suksa1 (Grade 7) at a local school.

She suffered pains three years ago which forced her to stop selling food and offering the laundry service.

Her weight increased sharply to almost 275kg, making her virtually immobile. With little income, she has ended up four months behind in her rent.

The governor said he had asked Kannayao district office to provide welfare to the woman and the boys. The district had issued a welfare card to Ms Amnuayporn and would provide a scholarship for the two boys in her care.

Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post.

Study the photo carefully because it will help you with some of the vocabulary.

ambulance – a vehicle for taking people to hospital รถพยาบาล
hydraulic – using the pressure of water or oil to make something work ซึ่งใช้น้ำในการขับเคลื่อน
elevator – a lift; a machine that carries people or things up or down between different levels of a tall building ลิฟต์
pallet – a flat wooden or metal surface used for moving or storing heavy goods แท่นวางสินค้าสำหรับลากเก็บหรือลำเลียง
dismantle – to take something apart รื้อ
balcony – a place where you can stand just outside an upper window. It sticks out from the wall of a building ระเบียง
transfer – moving someone or something from one place, vehicle, person or group to another การย้าย
blood pressure – the pressure at which blood flows from your heart around your body ความดันโลหิต,ความดันของเลือดที่มีต่อผนังภายในเส้นเลือด
cyst – a lump containing liquid that grows under your skin or inside your body ถุง,ถุงน้ำ
bedsore – a red painful area on your skin that you get from lying in one position in bed for a long time แผลกดทับ
abnormal – not usual or typical ผิดปกติ ไม่ธรรมดา
function – something that happens in your body, or something that a part of your body does การทำงาน
thyroid gland – an organ in your neck that produces substances that your body needs in order to control your behaviour and the way that your body grows ต่อมไทรอยด์
City Hall – the city government; the council members and officials who manage a city สถานที่ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่น, กรุงเทพมหานคร
laundry – washing clothes, sheets, etc. for customers กิจกรรมซักรีดเสื้อผ้า
sharply – suddenly and by a large amount อย่างเร็ว
virtually - almost เกือบจะ
immobile – unable to move or walk ที่ไม่สามารถเคลื่อนที่ได้
rent – paying money for the use of something for a period of time ค่าเช่า
welfare – help given, especially by the state or an organization, to people who need it; good care and living conditions สวัสดิภาพ

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:44 AM


Words in the News General News Easy English News Easy Business News Economics and Business Business Words in the News Teaching with the Bangkok Post Feature Focus From the Weeklies Mainly for Fun Hey kids! Weekend Practice Lessons on H.M.the King Focus on Thailand Buddhism Business and Economics Library 60 years ago General Links Terry's blog About Site General suggestions for teachers Building your vocabulary Suggestions for learners Suggestions for parents Who is Acharn Terry? Who is Acharn Jon?	Easy English News September 03, 2010 We're moving Early next week, this site will be moving to become part of the main Bangkok Post website. This move requires a lot of preparation, so I will not be posting new material here. Instead, I'll give you some examples of lessons that will appear in my new book that will be published shortly. Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:40 AM The news here is the same that you will find in the Bangkok Post except that it is much easier. I've included some of the vocabulary of the original stores, so you can learn several new words every day. Notice that you can listen to the text with the audio player below. You can also download the soundfile and play it back on your mp3 player. twitter Click button to listen to Complaint and rightclick to download A view from a visitor The Bangkok Post’s letter’s to the editor section is always a good read, and sometimes the comments for our foreign readers are especially interesting. Today, you will get a chance to hear both American and British English. The introduction is American (me) and the main text is in British (a neighbour of mine). Once again, exercises following the vocabulary. Are things really that bad? In today’s Postbag section, there is an angry complaint from an Englishman with a Thai wife about the treatment they received from Thai police during their five-week holiday in which they have driven over 4,000 kilometres on local highways. Do you think things are really as bad as he says they are?: “While our holiday has been wonderful there has been one aspect that has put me off driving in Thailand ever again. We have been stopped by the police eight times. With six of those I have been fined for a variety of motoring offences including speeding, not carrying the vehicle registration document and a minor traffic violation in Bangkok. “However, only once have these fines been legitimate and paperwork issued. All the other fines have been reduced amounts paid to the officer who stopped us to avoid me having to relinquish my licence and pay a more expensive but legitimate fine at a location way off our course. In other words, a bribe. “I was fined 400 baht on the way to Koh Chang for speeding but was well under the 90kph speed limit. The police didn’t even have a radar or any proof I was speeding. I was simply stopped, told I was doing over 90kph and asked for 400 baht. I paid, of course, as being a foreigner I had no wish to get into any further trouble, but this is blatant corruption by the police. No paperwork is issued and the policemen in question keep their hands well inside the car when receiving their bribe so as not to be seen taking money. “It’s not just me who was stopped. The false speeding violations were aimed at all drivers who approached the checkpoint — 400 baht is quite a lot of money for me to pay out on a false charge, but for a Thai, it must be equivalent to a day’s wages. Do the police have no conscience? How do they sleep at night knowing that they are exploiting both foreigners and their own people? “I am disgusted by this as are my Thai family who are clearly intimidated by the police here and frightened to question their behaviour. Is this a secret? Is the government aware? Everyone I speak to, whether Thai or farang has experience of such treatment by the police so why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?” RICHARD complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน aspect – one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc ด้าน,มุม fine – an amount of money that you have to pay because you have broken the law ค่าปรับ offence – a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment การกระทำความผิด minor – not important; small; having little influence or effect เล็กน้อย violation – an action that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc. การฝ่าฝืนกฎหมาย legitimate – allowed by the law, or correct according to the law ชอบด้วยกฎหมาย reduced – lowered relinquish – to give up something ปล่อย,ละทิ้ง bribe – money or a present given to someone so that they will help you doing something dishonest or illegal สินบน blatant – in an obvious or open way โจ่งแจ้ง โอ้อวด อึกทึก in question – the person or thing that is being discussed equivalent to – equal to; the same as เท่ากับ wages – an amount of money that you earn for working, usually according to how many hours or days you work each week or month ค่าจ้าง conscience – the part of you that judges the morality of your own actions and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for ความรู้สึกผิดชอบชั่วดี,สัมปชัญญะ exploit – to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for yourself หาประโยชน์จาก disgusted – strong feeling of disapproval and dislike at a situation or person's behaviour, etc ซึ่งน่าสะอิดสะเอียน, ซึ่งน่ารังเกียจ intimidated - frightened or nervous because you are not confident in a situation ทำให้กลัว aware – knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing ทราบ Getting the facts Read each of the following statements and decide whether they are true or false. Choose the best answer for each of the following. 1. The writer is complaining about his recent holiday in Thailand because a. he was stopped for speeding eight times b. he was forced to give up his driving license so he couldn’t drive here anymore. c. he feels that Thai police treated him unfairly many times d. All of the above are correct. 2. The writer says that a. the police only followed proper procedures once. b. he once refused to pay a fine because the police had no proof. c. the police were clearly looking especially for foreigners to stop. 3. According to the writer, a. It is cheaper to pay a police officer than to go to the police station and pay a fine and do the paperwork. b. Police officers on the roads can finish the necessary paperwork for traffic violations more quickly than those at police stations. c. Paperwork is not required for traffic violations in Thailand 4. The writer accused the police of a. taking bribes b. being corrupt c. behaving in an intimidating way d. All of the above are correct. Vocabulary practice Use words from the vocabulary list above to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You may have to change the form of some of the words to fit the sentence 1. He wanted to steal that car, but his _____________ told him it was not right to do so. 2. Anyone who wanted to stay overnight at the camp had to _________ their weapons at the entrance. 3. He claimed his passport was __________ but it was easy to see that it was not. 4. He had to pay a _______ of 2,000 baht for leaving the country after his visa had expired. 5. The official was so slow doing our paperwork that we suspected he wanted us to pay him a __________. 6. They were very __________ at the poor service they received at the restaurant. 7. The unusually high cost of the housing project and the poor building materials used were __________ examples of corruption. 8. The _________ at her new job were not very good, but at least she now had enough money for food. *Answers:* Getting the facts: 1. d 2. a 3. a 4. D Vocabulary practice: 1. conscience 2. relinquish 3. legitimate 4. fine 5. bribe 6. disgusted 7. blatant 8. wages Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:24 AM September 02, 2010 This is an example from my new book that is in the final stages of production. The story originally appeared on our site in October of 2009. The reader is from New Zealand, so the accent is quite different from my American accent. Notice there are also exercises at the end.. Click button to listen to Crab condos and rightclick to download Cheap condos United Nations Development Programme administrator Helen Clark, right, watches on Tuesday as an official puts together a “crab condominium” at Koh Loy Park pier in Chon Buri’s Si Racha district. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD One of the country’s cheapest “condominium” projects is located near a pier in Si Racha, Chon Buri. That is because the condos are not designed for humans, but for pregnant crabs. They consist of small, plastic, square-shaped buckets which are stacked in a row and tied to a raft. One pregnant female blue swimmer crab is placed in each bucket and kept for about two weeks when she releases anywhere from 300,000 to 800,000 eggs into the sea. This increases the likelihood of the eggs hatching, boosting the local crab population. The United Nations Development Programme is full of praise for the project ‘‘Restoring the habitat of the crab population is very good for local fishermen so that crabs can go back to the system and provide a more sustainable supply to the people,’’ UNDP administrator Helen Clark said this week. Ms Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, said she had seen the crab condominium management team demonstrating how they took care of pregnant crabs in the sea near the Koh Loy Park pier in Si Racha district. The team led by Kaek Sillapachai began the project in 2006 by buying female blue swimmer crabs and placing them in the buckets. Nitiphat Poypradub, an officer with the Si Racha Fisheries Research Station, said there had been no scientific survey of the increased crab population but people could see for themselves that, after a few years of having two crab condominiums near the pier, the crab catches were becoming larger and there were abundant blue swimmer crabs on sale at the market. ‘‘If we could save 1% of the billion crab eggs [hatched] every year, that is a big number and we could have a long-term supply of crabs and consumers could buy them cheaper with a more sustainable supply,’’ said Mr Chatchai, who helped begin the crab project after the success of a green mussel condominium launched nearly a decade ago. Adapted from a story by Achara Ashayagachat in today’s Bangkok Post. pier – a platform sticking out into water which people walk along or use when getting onto or off boats สะพานที่ยื่นออกไปในน้ำ pregnant – having a baby developing inside the body ท้อง ตั้งครรภ์ stack – to put things on top of each other in an ordered pile วางตั้งซ้อนกัน, กองซ้อนกัน raft – a small light flat boat made of wood, rubber or plastic แพ เรือแพ release – to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere ปล่อย likelihood – the chance that something will happen ความเป็นไปได้ hatch – the birth of a lot of insects or animals from eggs ออกจากไข่ boost – to increase เพิ่ม population – all the animals or plants of a particular type or group who live in one country, area or place กลุ่มพืชและสัตว์ที่อาศัยอยู่ในบริเวณหนึ่ง restore – to cause a particular situation to exist again, especially a good one ฟื้นฟูสภาพ habitat – the type of place that a particular animal usually lives in or a particular plant usually grows in ถิ่นที่อยู่ของพืชหรือสัตว์ sustainable – able to be successfully continued for a long time ยั่งยืน, ถาวร demonstrate – to show something and explain how it works สาธิต abundant – more than enough มากมาย consumer – someone who buys and uses goods and services ผู้บริโภค mussel – a small sea animal that can be eaten and which lives inside a black shell with two parts that close tightly together หอยจำพวกหอยแมลงภู่ launch – to start something เปิดโครงการ, เริ่มต้น, เริ่มทำ decade – a period of ten years ทศวรรษ Getting the facts Read each of the following statements and decide whether they are true or false. 1. The housing in this story was designed for crabs. 2. It is designed to keep females from being attacked by males. 3. Most eggs laid by female crabs do not survive. 4. A single female crab lays hundreds of thousands of eggs. 5. The Si Racha Fisheries Research Station has proven that the crab population in the area has increased as a result of the project. 6. The crab project is the first to use the condominium approach. Vocabulary practice Use words from the vocabulary list above to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You may have to change the form of some of the words to fit the sentence. 1. The eggs are collected before they can _________. 2. It took a full _________ – 1997 to 2007 for the project to begin. 3. She had to ____________ the process for all to see before they had the confidence to begin. 4. The floated down the river on a _________. 5. Fish are still ___________ several kilometres off shore, but villagers are worried the big fishing boats will soon arrive. 6. The natural _________ of the tigers has decreased significantly in recent years. 7. Hunting in such large groups is clearly not ___________. 8. The _________ stretched almost a kilometre over the sea. *Answers* Getting the facts: 1. true 2. false 3. true 4. true 5.false 6. false Vocabulary practice: 1. hatch 2. decade 3. demonstrate 4. raft 5. abundent 6. habitate 7. sustainable 8. pier Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:07 AM September 01, 2010 The news here is the same that you will find in the Bangkok Post except that it is much easier. I've included some of the vocabulary of the original stores, so you can learn several new words every day. Notice that you can listen to the text with the audio player below. You can also download the soundfile and play it back on your mp3 player. twitter Click button to listen to Thaksin photo and rightclick to download “Alive and well” This photo of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra taken with former South African president Nelson Mandela was a subject of much discussion on the Internet yesterday. There was a big debate about whether it was real or “photoshopped”, i.e., doctored to appear real using the popular software program. One reason for the disbelief is that there have recently been rumours that Mr Thaksin was seriously ill and staying in nearby Brunei. His month-long silence – his last twitter posting was July 26 – only added to the suspicion that the rumours might be true. Yesterday’s release of two photos, the second taken with Mr Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, was clearly an attempt to quash those rumours. Mr Thaksin’s spokesman Noppadon Pattama, who circulated the pictures during a press conference, said Mr Thaksin was in excellent health but had stayed out of the spotlight to avoid stirring up controversy and facilitate reconciliation. Mr Thaksin was keen on bringing about reconciliation in Thailand and his meeting with Mr Mandela, Africa’s model reconciliation statesman, was to tap the latter’s experience, Mr Noppadon said. He also insisted that the photos were authentic. He did not say when the photo with Mr Mandela was taken but said the photo with Mr Mandela’s former wife was taken on Friday. Mr Noppadon said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s present visit to Montenegro as part of the government’s attempts to have Mr Thaksin extradited were in vain as Mr Thaksin had been granted citizenship. This made extradition unlikely. Meanwhile, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday Mr Thaksin was definitely in good health and was not in any country close to Thailand. Mr Somchai said Mr Thaksin phoned him on Sunday to wish him a happy birthday. Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Aekarach Sattaburuth. ousted – forced out of a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ doctor – to change a photo, document, tape, film, etc. in order to deceive people ปลอมแปลงเพื่อหลอกลวง appear – to seem ดูเหมือนจะ, ดูเหมือนว่า disbelief – the feeling of not believing someone or something, especially something shocking or unexpected ความไม่เชื่อ rumour – a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true ข่าวลือ suspicion – a belief that a crime has been committed ความสงสัย quash – to stop something from continuing ปราบ, กำจัด (ข่าวลือ, กรต่อต้าน) ยกเลิก circulate – to send to many different people หมุนเวียน press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว spotlight – the centre of public attention จุดสนใจของผู้คน, เป็นที่สนใจ stir up – to make someone feel upset or angry ก่อให้เกิดความขุ่นใจ controversy – a strong disagreement, especially about a public policy or moral issue ความขัดแย้ง ประเด็นข้อขัดแย้ง facilitate – to make it possible or easier for something to happen ทำให้สะดวกขึ้น reconciliation – a new and friendly relationship with someone who you argued with or fought with การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก, การสมานฉันท์ keen – very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much สนใจ, ใจจดใจจ่อ statesman – an experienced political leader that many people respect รัฐบุรุษ tap – to get or make use of something ใช้เป็นประโยชน์ latter – used for referring to the second of two people, things, or groups that have just been mentioned อันหลัง,ครึ่งหลัง,ส่วนที่สอง insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน authentic – real, not false or copied ของแท้ extradite – to officially send back someone who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed for a trial ส่งตัวกลับ in vain – without success ไม่สำเร็จ grant – to officially give something ให้ citizenship – being a member of a particular country and having rights because of it ชนชาติ, ความเป็นพลเมือง Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:20 AM August 31, 2010 Click button to listen to High fees and rightclick to download When free is not free Wai Kru ceremony at Kanchanapisek School in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. Thailand 15-year free public school system is not universally free. The Ministry of Education does allow schools to collect additional fees under certain conditions. First, the fees are supposed to be suitable and approved by the school’s committee. Secondly, the school is also required to seek the consent of students and parents. Students and parents from Kanchanapisek School in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum are complaining that these conditions were clearly not met in the school’s massive fee increase this year. The school is under fire for increasing its fees by up to 65% — in ‘‘flagrant disregard for the government’s 15-year free education scheme’’, a group representing students say. About 10 students and parents from Kanchanapisek School yesterday lodged a complaint with Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat calling on him to investigate the school for allegedly collecting high tuition fees from both boarding and non-resident students. They claimed the tuition fee had increased by between 33% and 65% without their consent. New Mathayom Suksa 1 (Grade 7) students are suffering the most, paying 42,000 baht a year in tuition fees. The school has cited higher expenses from setting up IT rooms and hiring foreign teachers to justify the increases. Each student has to pay 2,500 baht to use IT services and another 500 baht to be taught by foreign teachers. However, the school had not provided enough computers for all students, a student representative said. And no foreign teachers had been hired. The students and parents also complained that the school had failed to hand out free textbooks provided by the government to students. They also accused it of providing students with low-quality lunches with rotten fruit. Most school buildings were dilapidated, they said. The school’s executives could not be reached for comment yesterday. Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Sirikul Bunnag. universally – including all situations; involving or affecting everyone โดยทั่วไป fee – an amount of money that you pay to be allowed to do something ค่าธรรมเนียม condition – something that must be done before another thing can happen เงื่อนไข suitable – acceptable or right for someone or something เหมาะสม consent – to give permission to do something ยอมให้ทำ, อนุญาต massive - very large in size, amount or numberใหญ่โต under fire – being criticised strongly กำลังเป็นที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์, กำลังโดนโจมตี flagrant – done in an obvious way that shows you do not care if you break rules or offend people ที่ปรากฏชัด, ชัดๆ, ที่เห็นได้ชัด disregard – not respecting something or considering it important ความไม่เอาใจใส่, ความเฉยเมย, ความเพิกเฉย scheme – a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people แผนการ โครงการ lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim ยื่นคำร้อง ยื่นฟ้องต่อ investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา tuition fees – money paid to attend classes ค่าเล่าเรียน boarding (school) – of a school where students can live as well as study โรงเรียนกินนอน resident – living in a particular place พักอาศัย suffer – to be badly affected by a very difficult or unpleasant situation ประสบความลำบาก cited – to mention as an example, explanation or proof of something else อ้าง, กล่าวอ้าง hire – to pay someone to work for you จ้าง justify – to show that there is good reason for something แสดงเหตุผลที่ดีพอ rotten – spoiled; decayed เน่า เสีย dilapidated – old and in bad condition ซึ่งชำรุดทรุดโทรม comment – expressing an opinion แสดงความคิดเห็น Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:57 AM August 30, 2010 Click button to listen to Logging and rightclick to download Worse than it seems One of the best measures of how much illegal logging is taking place in the country has long been thought to be the number of arrests of those transporting illegal wood. Those arrests have fallen in recent years, so things must be getting better, right? Not according to a recent report by the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime (NREC) Division. The fall in arrests is actually a result of wrongdoers finding ways to conceal their illegal activities. NREC chief Misakawan Bura said ‘‘nai tun’’, or financiers, are helping to keep the illegal business flourishing. These influential businessmen have secretly occupied more land. ‘‘These nai tun are everywhere,’’ Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said. ‘‘They range from the plain rich to the super rich and from influential gangsters to politicians at both local and national levels, who all have forest land under their occupation.’’ The officer admitted police hardly ever arrest these wrongdoers because of the ‘‘tricks of laws’’ they cunningly employ. Provinces identified by police as areas at risk of illegal logging and forest encroachment. The NREC chief said the financiers normally use landless villagers or foreign labourers as ‘‘tools’’ for their land acquisition plots. They send these people into forest areas to occupy the land and turn it into farm land. The nai tun promise they will help contact state agencies to enable them to use the land and will be responsible for any requirements to help them settle on the encroached land. The nai tun will then wait until land rights documents are issued to the occupants before buying the plots from them. ‘‘This process is nothing new and it has been widely reported by the media,’’ Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said. So although there has been less news about the illegal export of logs, the sound of chainsaws and trees being felled in the forests nationwide has never ceased. Forest land is being turned into farmland in the North, mines and rubber plantations in the Northeast, and palm tree plantations and even luxury tourist resorts in some scenic locations in the South, Pol Maj Gen Misakawan said Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Wassayos Ngamkham. illegal – against the law อย่างผิดกฎหมาย logging – the work of cutting down trees for wood อาชีพการตัดไม้ arrest – (of the police) to take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม transport – to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง financier – a person or an organisation that manages, provides or lends large amounts of money ผู้จัดหาเงินทุนให้, ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเกี่ยวกับการเงิน,นักการคลัง flourish – to grow or develop successfully เจริญรุ่งเรือง, เจริญเติบโต influential – of a person who has the power to affect a situation มีอิทธิพล occupy – to work or live on a piece of land อาศัยอยู่ใน, ครอบครอง range – to have an upper and a lower limit in amount, number, etc ผันแปรภายในขอบเขตหนึ่ง plain – ordinary; with nothing added ธรรมดา gangster – a member of an organised group of violent criminals สมาชิกของแก๊งอาชญา, อันธพาล, นักเลง, hardly ever – seldom แทบจะไม่, ไม่ค่อยจะ cunning – clever at planning something so that you get what you want, especially by tricking other people; orof things that are cleverly made for a particular purpose เจ้าเล่ห์, ฉลาดแกมโกง employ – to use ใช้ at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง encroachment - gradually covering more and more of an area of land การบุกรุก acquisition – the process of buying something; something that has been bought การซื้อ, การได้มาซึ่งการเข้าถือสิทธิ์ plot – (1) a secret plan to do something bad แผนการลับ (2) a piece of land used for a particular purpose ที่ดินแปลงเล็ก issue – to give or provide something officially แจกจ่าย media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ chain saw – a tool used for cutting down trees, with a blade consisting of a set of connected metal points that are driven round very fast by a motor เลื่อยที่มีใบเลื่อยหมุนต่อเนื่องกันโดยใช้มอเตอร์ ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ตัดต้นไม้ใหญ่ cease – to stop จบ, ยุติ plantation – a large farm where crops such as tea, coffee, cotton, sugar or, in this case, trees, are grown ไร่ นาขนาดใหญ่ scenic – providing beautiful views of nature สวยงามอย่างธรรมชาติ Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 10:40 AM August 27, 2010 Click button to listen to Weighty and rightclick to download Weighty problem Amnuayporn Thongprapai, weighing almost 275kg, greets members of the public after she is lifted from her third-floor apartment in Kannayao district by an elevator. APICHART JINAKUL Getting 40-year-old Amnuayporn Thongprapai from her third floor room to hospital was not just a matter of calling an ambulance. It took a special hydraulic elevator, a large pallet on wheels and the dismantling of her room’s balcony. You see, Ms Amnuayporn weighs almost 275kg and she can’t walk. In fact, before yesterday, she hadn’t left her room in three years. She was badly in need of help. According to Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who was present during the transfer, she has high blood pressure in addition to her weight problems, two cysts on one leg and bedsores. Doctors believe her condition was caused by an abnormal function of the thyroid gland. Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukhavetchavorakij said a team of doctors headed by the BMA General Hospital director would care for Ms Amnuayporn. Her hospital stay is expected to last for one year and will be paid for by City Hall. Ms Amnuayporn used to earn a living doing laundry and selling food at her apartment, where she lives in Bangkok’s Kannayao district with a relative's children, Sathaporn Charoensap,15, and his younger brother Sakulsak, 14. The boys study in Mathayom Suksa1 (Grade 7) at a local school. She suffered pains three years ago which forced her to stop selling food and offering the laundry service. Her weight increased sharply to almost 275kg, making her virtually immobile. With little income, she has ended up four months behind in her rent. The governor said he had asked Kannayao district office to provide welfare to the woman and the boys. The district had issued a welfare card to Ms Amnuayporn and would provide a scholarship for the two boys in her care. Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post. Study the photo carefully because it will help you with some of the vocabulary. ambulance – a vehicle for taking people to hospital รถพยาบาล hydraulic – using the pressure of water or oil to make something work ซึ่งใช้น้ำในการขับเคลื่อน elevator – a lift; a machine that carries people or things up or down between different levels of a tall building ลิฟต์ pallet – a flat wooden or metal surface used for moving or storing heavy goods แท่นวางสินค้าสำหรับลากเก็บหรือลำเลียง dismantle – to take something apart รื้อ balcony – a place where you can stand just outside an upper window. It sticks out from the wall of a building ระเบียง transfer – moving someone or something from one place, vehicle, person or group to another การย้าย blood pressure – the pressure at which blood flows from your heart around your body ความดันโลหิต,ความดันของเลือดที่มีต่อผนังภายในเส้นเลือด cyst – a lump containing liquid that grows under your skin or inside your body ถุง,ถุงน้ำ bedsore – a red painful area on your skin that you get from lying in one position in bed for a long time แผลกดทับ abnormal – not usual or typical ผิดปกติ ไม่ธรรมดา function – something that happens in your body, or something that a part of your body does การทำงาน thyroid gland – an organ in your neck that produces substances that your body needs in order to control your behaviour and the way that your body grows ต่อมไทรอยด์ City Hall – the city government; the council members and officials who manage a city สถานที่ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่น, กรุงเทพมหานคร laundry – washing clothes, sheets, etc. for customers กิจกรรมซักรีดเสื้อผ้า sharply – suddenly and by a large amount อย่างเร็ว virtually - almost เกือบจะ immobile – unable to move or walk ที่ไม่สามารถเคลื่อนที่ได้ rent – paying money for the use of something for a period of time ค่าเช่า welfare – help given, especially by the state or an organization, to people who need it; good care and living conditions สวัสดิภาพ Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:44 AM
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