SESSION 24: A SONG
CREED - ONE LAST BREATH
THE SONG:
THE LYRICS:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - PLAYSCRIPT - MAY 2010 - ACT 11
12 years ago
Sunday, March 25, 2012
SESSION 24: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
SESSION 24: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION:
2.1 PAYMENTS: What are the pros and cons of the following types of payments?
- Cash
- Credit Card
- Prepaid Cards
- Cheques
- Online
- Bartering
2.2 SOCIETIES: Associate the following words with a society and imagine what kind of society we would have under these conditions. Is it possible to have these types of societies in the future? Would you like to? Should we try?
- cashless
- wireless
- crimeless
- clueless
- debtless
- fearless
- mindless
- flawless
2.3 DISCUSSION: HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS WHICH YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AND TRY ASKING YOURSELF BEFORE YOU COME TO OUR DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY:
a) What did you think when you read the headline?
b) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘cash’?
c) Do people use mainly cash in your country?
d) What do you think of a cashless society?
e) Do you prefer cash or digital payments?
f) Would you miss having banknotes and coins in your pocket / wallet / purse?
g) What will people who prefer to keep their cash under their bed do?
h) Do you think countries going cashless is just a question of time? When do you think your country will go cashless?
i) Do you think cashless is safer?
j) Would you have any problems with a cashless economy?
k) Would you be able to do things quicker if you paid for everything digitally?
l) Is cybercrime more serious than physical robbery?
m) Will politicians still find ways to be corrupt?
n) Is it inevitable that economies will become cashless? Why?
o) What device will we use to make cashless payments?
p) Are you comfortable with paying for things online?
q) Will the hobby of coin and banknote collecting disappear with the emergence of a cashless economy?
r) Would the world’s currency system change with a cashless economy?
s) What questions would you like to ask a banker about cashless economies?
PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:
FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.
THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT IN THE ORAL SESSION.
FINAL TASK:
HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.
Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 24, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:
- Write a letter to Emilio Botín asking him about your doubts in relation to a cashless economy and giving your opinion about it.
- 'The Black Market, corruption and a cashless society.' How do these three relate. Express your opinion.
SESSION 24: KEY TO EXERCISES
SESSION 24: KEY TO EXERCISES
1.1 TRUE/FALSE:
a.F / b.T / c.F / d.T / e.T / f.F / g.T / h.F
1.2 SYNONYM MATCH:
1.f / 2.d / 3.a / 4.j / 5.h / 6.c / 7.e / 8.g / 9.b / 10.i
1.3 PHRASE MATCH:
1.e / 2.i / 3.h / 4.a / 5.c / 6.d / 7.f / 8.b / 9.j /10.g
1.4 GAP FILL:
1. DESTINED - 2. CASHLESS - 3. REST - 4. EXTENT - 5. AWAY - 6. PREPAID - 7. GROWING - 8. HARD
9. INTRODUCE - 10. EXPERT - 11. HANDLE - 12. ROBBERIES - 13. TRAIL - 14. RID - 15. WAY - 16. CHARGE
SESSION 24: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
SESSION 24: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES:
THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
1.1 TRUE/FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):
a. Sweden will be the second European country to become cashless.
b. Only 3% of purchases in Sweden are made by cash.
c. Most public buses in Sweden still accept cash only.d. Churches in Sweden are asking people to donate digitally.
e. England was the first European country to use banknotes.
f. Bank robberies in Sweden have increased in recent years.
g. Corruption among politicians in Sweden has gone down.
h. Banks in Sweden do not charge for processing credit card payments.
1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. destined ......................... a. scale
2. transactions ..................... b. footpath
3. extent ........................... c. start
4. purchased ....................... d. business deals
5. accepting ....................... e. specialist
6. introduce ....................... f. likely
7. expert ........................... g. manage
8. handle ........................... h. taking
9. trail .............................. i. ditching
10. getting rid of .................. j. bought
1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. Sweden is destined .................... a. growing number of…
2. the extent of Sweden’s move ....... b. by electronic transactions 3. public buses don’t .................... c. currency
4. A small but ............................. d. of a cashless society
5. hard ..................................... e. to become the first country
6. just one group in favour .............. f. in circulation
7. Less cash ................................ g. bigger profits
8. the digital trail generated ............ h. accept cash
9. getting .................................. i. away from cash
10. another way for banks to make .... j. rid of cash
1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:
AWAY - REST - GROWING - HARD - DESTINED - EXTENT - CASHLESS - PREPAID
Sweden is (1) ____________ to become the first country in the world to switch from banknotes and coins to a (2) ____________ economy. Only three per cent of transactions in Sweden are made using cash; the (3) ____________ is credit cards or mobile phone payments. This compares with 7 per cent in the USA and 9 per cent in other Eurozone countries. Canada’s Chronicle Herald newspaper reported on the (4) ____________ of Sweden’s move (5) ____________ from cash. It wrote: “In most Swedish cities, public buses don’t accept cash; tickets are (6) ____________ or purchased with a cellphone text message. A small but (7) ____________ number of businesses only take cards." It also said churches are only accepting digital donations and not (8) ____________ currency.
RID - EXPERT - TRAIL - HANDLE - INTRODUCE - CHARGE - WAY - ROBBERIES
Sweden was the first European country to (9) ____________ banknotes in 1661. Today, the Swedish Bankers' Association is just one group in favour of a cashless society. Its security (10) ____________ Par Karlsson said: “Less cash in circulation makes things safer, both for the staff that (11) ____________ cash, but also of course for the public.” Bank (12) ____________ have gone down from 110 in 2008 to just 16 in 2011. Political corruption has also decreased because of the digital (13) ____________ generated by electronic transactions. Not everyone supports getting (14) ____________ of cash. Small business owners see it as another (15) ____________ for banks to make bigger profits. Banks (16) ____________ from 5 Swedish kronor ($0.80) for every payment made by credit card.
SESSION 24: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 28th MARCH
SESSION 24: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 28th MARCH
SWEDEN IN MOVE TO CASHLESS ECONOMY
TEXT TAKEN AND/OR ADAPTED FROM:
THE TEXT:
Sweden is destined to become the first country in the world to switch from banknotes and coins to a cashless economy. Only three per cent of transactions in Sweden are made using cash; the rest is credit cards or mobile phone payments. This compares with 7 per cent in the USA and 9 per cent in other Eurozone countries. Canada’s Chronicle Herald newspaper reported on the extent of Sweden’s move away from cash. It wrote: “In most Swedish cities, public buses don’t accept cash; tickets are prepaid or purchased with a cellphone text message. A small but growing number of businesses only take cards." It also said churches are only accepting digital donations and not hard currency.
Sweden was the first European country to introduce banknotes in 1661. Today, the Swedish Bankers' Association is just one group in favour of a cashless society. Its security expert Par Karlsson said: “Less cash in circulation makes things safer, both for the staff that handle cash, but also of course for the public.” Bank robberies have gone down from 110 in 2008 to just 16 in 2011. Political corruption has also decreased because of the digital trail generated by electronic transactions. Not everyone supports getting rid of cash. Small business owners see it as another way for banks to make bigger profits. Banks charge from 5 Swedish kronor ($0.80) for every payment made by credit card.
'Sweden in Move to Cashless Economy' - 20th March, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
SESSION 23: A VIDEO (2)
SESSION 23: A VIDEO (2)
BANKER BUSTED! LIVE CROSS EXPOSES MIRANDA KERR ON STAFFER´S MONITOR
SESSION 23: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
SESSION 23: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION:
2.1 TOPLESS/NAKED: How O.K or not O.K is topless/naked women/men in:
- newspapers
- movies
- advertising
- the Internet
- paintings
- sculptures
- on beaches
2.2 UNACCEPTABLE: What is most unacceptable for you in a newspaper? Rank them and give reasons:
- (semi-)nudity
- lies
- bloody images/photos
- sex advertisements
- celebrity gossip
- political propaganda
2.3 DISCUSSION: HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS WHICH YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AND TRY ASKING YOURSELF BEFORE YOU COME TO OUR DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY:
a) What did you think when you read the headline?
b) What do you think of a newspaper regularly featuring photos of topless women?
c) What do you think of Bild’s recent change?d) Is having a photo of a topless woman on page three just as bad as having it on the front cover?
e) How degrading is it to women to have women naked or semi-naked in newspapers or magazines?
f) Many women buy the newspaper Bild – do you think they should boycott the publication?
g) Should all companies mark International Women’s Day by giving their female workers the day off?
h) Why is ending the “page-one girl” a “big step” for men?
i) How is moving the “page-one girl” to page three in any way “more modern”?
j) Did you like reading this article?
k) Could Bild boost its sales by ending sexist photos altogether?
l) There is a lot of exposure of the female body in advertising. Why? What does this say about our society?
m) If Bild has half-naked women in its pages, shouldn’t it also have photos of half-naked men?
n) Can a newspaper call itself a newspaper if it has photos of topless women in it?
o) How can the newspaper attract more, younger women?
p) How sexist are the newspapers in your country? Do you have similar cases to Bild in your country?
q) Are photos of topless women something from the past?
PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:
FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.
THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT IN THE ORAL SESSION.
FINAL TASK:
HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.
Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 23, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:
- Write a letter to the director of BILD saying what you think about having topless women on the frontpage of his newspaper.
- What does the exposure of the female body in the mass media say about our society? Express your opinion.
SESSION 23: KEY TO EXERCISES
SESSION 23: KEY TO EXERCISES
1.1 TRUE/FALSE:
a.T / b.T / c.F / d.F / e.T / f.F / g.T / h.F
1.2 SYNONYM MATCH:
1.i / 2.e / 3.d / 4.b / 5.a / 6.h / 7.f / 8.j / 9.g / 10.c
1.3 PHRASE MATCH:
1.e / 2.h / 3.j / 4.b / 5.g / 6.d / 7.c / 8.i / 9.a /10.f
1.4 GAP FILL:
1. TRADITION - 2. INSTEAD - 3. MARK - 4. GIVEN - 5. HALF - 6. REASON - 7. PERHAPS - 8. REMAIN
9. GONE - 10. BOOST - 11. FIGURES - 12. ATTRACT - 13. TREND - 14. FIT - 15. ANNOUNCED - 16. GREAT
SESSION 23: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
SESSION 23: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES:
THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.
1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT
1.1 TRUE/FALSE: Look at the article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):
a. The top-selling European newspaper has ended a 28-year tradition.
b. The newspaper used to print half-naked women on its front page.
c. All male workers at the newspaper got the day off on the 8th of March.b. The newspaper used to print half-naked women on its front page.
d. The paper said it was a giant step for women.
e. The paper may have stopped the front-page nudes to increase sales.
f. Sales of the newspaper have increased in recent years.
g. The paper wants to become more modern.
h. In 1970, the paper claimed women were more intelligent than men.
1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. ended ................... a. advance
2. mark .................... b. point of view
3. publication ............. c. shame
4. perspective ............ d. newspaper
5. step ..................... e. observe
6. boost .................... f. movement
7. trend .................... g. persuade
8. fit ....................... h. increase
9. win over ............... i. terminated
10. embarrassment ...... j. match
1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. Europe’s biggest- ........................ a. modern image
2. 28-year .................................... b. female perspective
3. All 300 female workers were also ..... c. new, female readers
4. a small step from a ...................... d. its sales
5. in a more ................................. e. selling newspaper
6. trying to boost ........................... f. embarrassment
7. trying to attract .......................... g. modern way
8. Part of their strategy to reverse ....... h. tradition
9. doesn't fit with that ..................... i. that trend
10. of great .................................. j. given the day off
1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text:
HALF - PERHAPS - INSTEAD - REMAIN - MARK - TRADITION - REASON - GIVEN
Europe’s biggest-selling newspaper has ended its 28-year (1) ____________ of publishing pictures of topless women on its front page. (2) ____________, the tabloid “Bild” will feature the semi-clad models on page three. Editors said it made the decision to (3) ____________ International Women’s Day on March 8th. All 300 female workers were also (4) ____________ the day off. The paper said its male staff decided to move the (5) ____________-naked women from the front page. The publication explained the (6) ____________ for changing its “page-one girl” in a statement, which read: “It is (7) ____________ a small step from a female perspective, but for “Bild” and all men in Germany, it is a big step.” It added: “Of course “Bild” wants to (8) ____________ sexy. But in a more modern way.”
Europe’s biggest-selling newspaper has ended its 28-year (1) ____________ of publishing pictures of topless women on its front page. (2) ____________, the tabloid “Bild” will feature the semi-clad models on page three. Editors said it made the decision to (3) ____________ International Women’s Day on March 8th. All 300 female workers were also (4) ____________ the day off. The paper said its male staff decided to move the (5) ____________-naked women from the front page. The publication explained the (6) ____________ for changing its “page-one girl” in a statement, which read: “It is (7) ____________ a small step from a female perspective, but for “Bild” and all men in Germany, it is a big step.” It added: “Of course “Bild” wants to (8) ____________ sexy. But in a more modern way.”
FIGURES - FIT - BOOST - TREND - GREAT - GONE - ATTRACT - ANNOUNCED
Over 5,000 women have (9) ____________ topless on the newspaper’s front cover since 1984. Analysts believe “Bild” is now trying to (10) ____________ its sales because of declining circulation (11) ____________. They say the paper is trying to (12) ____________ new, female readers. Christian Meier, a media expert, said: “Part of their strategy to reverse that (13) ____________ [of a falling readership] is to try to be taken more seriously as a modern…newspaper. Having naked women on the front page just doesn't (14) ____________ with that modern image. Their hope is that they will win over younger, female readers.” “Bild” also reprinted one of its 1970 headlines that (15) ____________: “Women have less in the head than men”. It stated this was, “of (16) ____________ embarrassment today”.
Friday, March 16, 2012
SESSION 23: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 21st MARCH
SESSION 23: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 21st MARCH
TOP NEWSPAPER SCRAPS FRONT-PAGE NUDES
TEXT TAKEN AND/OR ADAPTED FROM:
THE TEXT:
Europe’s biggest-selling newspaper has ended its 28-year tradition of publishing pictures of topless women on its front page. Instead, the tabloid “Bild” will feature the semi-clad models on page three. Editors said it made the decision to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th. All 300 female workers were also given the day off. The paper said its male staff decided to move the half-naked women from the front page. The publication explained the reason for changing its “page-one girl” in a statement, which read: “It is perhaps a small step from a female perspective, but for “Bild” and all men in Germany, it is a big step.” It added: “Of course “Bild” wants to remain sexy. But in a more modern way.”
Over 5,000 women have gone topless on the newspaper’s front cover since 1984. Analysts believe “Bild” is now trying to boost its sales because of declining circulation figures. They say the paper is trying to attract new, female readers. Christian Meier, a media expert, said: “Part of their strategy to reverse that trend [of a falling readership] is to try to be taken more seriously as a modern…newspaper. Having naked women on the front page just doesn't fit with that modern image. Their hope is that they will win over younger, female readers.” “Bild” also reprinted one of its 1970 headlines that announced: “Women have less in the head than men”. It stated this was, “of great embarrassment today”.
'Top Newspaper Scraps Front-Page Nudes' - 11th Marh, 2012
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
Sunday, March 11, 2012
SESSION 22: A VIDEO (2)
SESSION 22: A VIDEO (2)
BBC: BRITAIN NEEDS A CABINET MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SESSION 22: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
SESSION 22: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK
2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION:
2.1 LIFE SATISFACTION: Think about the following points and how they are related to life satisfaction:
- work situation
- financial situation
- personal relationships
- mental well-being
- anxiety
- peacefulness
2.2 DISCUSSION: HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS WHICH YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AND TRY ASKING YOURSELF BEFORE YOU COME TO OUR DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY:
- Do you think happinness has to do with the fact that things you do in life are worthwile or not?
- Must there be a balance between time spent on paid work and on other aspects of life? Do you think this contributes to life satisfaction?
- Think about what Lord Layard said: Life satisfaction will fall as the recession hits. Do you agree with this?
- 'More equal societies are happier', do you agree? Does this mean that redistribution of income will produce a happier populace?
- Felicia Huppert has made a study on 'things in life that are worthwile'. Have you ever asked yourself about the things in your life that are worthwile to you?
- What do you know about the Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan and the idea of gross national happiness?
- President Sarkozy asks Nobel Laureates Joe Stiglitz and Amartya Sen how to measure happiness. Do you think Presidents and Prime Ministers are or should be worried about the idea of national happiness? Is this an important political issue?
- Professor Jonathan Haidt highlights the importance of relationships and talks about five values in societies that we should consider: care, fairness, loyalty, respect and purity. Do you agree with him? How do these values relate to happiness?
- Do you agree with the fact that a lot of young people think that wealth and celebrity will make them happy? Isn´t this what we have taught them?
- Professor Jonathan Haidt says that it´s not wealth and celebrity what makes you happy but relationships, engagement and feeling that you contribute to the community. Do you agree with him?
- Paul Allen mentions that another big factor in happiness is health. Do you agree with him? To what extend is health important to our happiness?
- Britons associate happiness with being: calm, relaxed and peaceful. Nevertheless, our lifestyle nowadays leads us to being energized and excited. Do you agree with the Britons?
- In what way are the following factors more or less important to feeling happier: money, work, relationships, engagement, health.
PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS:
FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.
THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT IN THE ORAL SESSION.
FINAL TASK:
HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.
Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 22, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions:
- 'More equal societies are happier', express your opinion.
- 'Life satisfaction will fall as the recession hits', how does this statement relate to Spain and its economical situation nowadays.
SESSION 22: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 14th MARCH
SESSION 22: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 14th MARCH
BRITONS STILL HAPPY DESPITE FINANCIAL WOES, SURVEY FINDS
Author: Tim Bowen
A 2011 survey has revealed that while most Britons are not content with their work-life balance, they are averagely very happy with their personal relationships and mental well-being. However, experts warn that this will decrease as the recession takes hold.
Text taken from:
Just click on: http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/news-lessons/monthly-topical-news-lessons/pdf-content/britons-still-happy-despite-financial-woes-advanced/551856.article And you have the text together with some exercises and the key for you to work on.
HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
SESSION 21: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 7th MARCH
SESSION 21: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 7th MARCH
Hi followers,
This week we will repeat the same topic of Session 20. Read the text in Session 20 and do the exercises, you have the key to correct yourselves.
This week we will repeat the same topic of Session 20. Read the text in Session 20 and do the exercises, you have the key to correct yourselves.
6,000-Calorie Burger Gives Man Heart Attack
You can also write the composition suggested in Session 20. Choose one of these two Topics:
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano, express your opinion.
- Write a letter to Jon Basso telling him what you think about his restaurant: Heart Attack Grill Restaurant.
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