News feed：Textbook prices
【明報專訊】AS SHOWN on the ''Recommended Textbook List'' (適用書目表) database, nearly 45% of the textbooks have had a price freeze or reduction. Overall they have increased in price by 1.4% compared with the current school year. The Education Bureau says it will continue to stabilise prices. Also, it says it will provide separate pricing for textbooks and the debundled materials, so that students and parents who intend to reuse old books can independently purchase materials they need, and strictly regulate revisions to textbooks.
Drying up
THE dry weather in South China has continued for consecutive months, and rainfall in the Dongjiang River Basin was around 60% less than usual, resulting in lesser water in storage in the three major reservoirs. The water level of Xinfengjiang Reservoir (新豐江水庫), the largest artificial lake in Guangdong Province with storage capacity, fell to its lowest in 22 years, exposing a large area of muddy bottom. Cities in the Dongjiang basin have appealed to the public to save water.
Record-breaking hair
FOR 12 years, a girl from India called Nilanshi hadn't cut her hair, which was certified by the Guinness World Records as the longest among youngsters in the world. Recently she has cut it off and then sent the hair to the Guinness World Records Museum for display! Now her hair looks cool and short. Nilanshi says that although she likes long hair very much, she thinks it's time for a change. She stopped having a haircut at six because of an unpleasant experience.
■Gear up
According to the passages on this page, circle the correct answers.
(1) Less than half of textbook prices have been frozen or reduced.
( True / False / Not given )
(2) Nilanshi didn't have a haircut after an unhappy incident.
( True / False / Not given )
(3)Xinfengjiang Reservoir is the largest reservoir in China.
( True / False / Not given )
(Answers on next text)
■Glossary
stabilise (v) 穩定
debundle (v) 分拆
consecutive (adj) 連續的
unpleasant (adj) 不愉快的
[Smarties' Power English 第312期]
Infographic：Themed entertainment
【明報專訊】''Entertainment sparks more joy when it is themed.'' The popular... 詳情
Grammar：Comparative and superlative
【明報專訊】The Smarties held an athletics meet last week. They are now havi... 詳情
