2 June
People and Relationships
Do you enjoy meeting new people?
What are some topics you should avoid when talking to someone new?
Where are some good places to meet new people?
How important are first impressions to you?
Do you find it easy or difficult to make new friends? Why?
What are some signs that a friendship is not healthy?
How do relationships change over time?
How do cultural differences affect relationships?
Do you think social media helps or harms relationships? Why?
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Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session
The Origin of “Horsepower” and Its Modern Use
When it comes to car engines, we often hear about the power output measured in horsepower, but have you ever wondered why we use this term? The concept of horsepower was invented by James Watt, a Scottish engineer, in the late 18th century. Watt was trying to sell steam engines and needed a way to explain their power in a way people could understand. Since many farmers used horses to do work, Watt used them as a point of reference, claiming that one horse could produce a maximum of 15 horsepower.
Mechanical horsepower (also known as imperial horsepower) is approximately equivalent to 745.7 watts of power. This term has stuck, even though modern technology has evolved far beyond what a horse can do.
How Fast Are We?
Interestingly, Usain Bolt, the world-famous sprinter, can be measured in terms of horsepower, too. During his world record 100m run in Berlin in 2009, researchers in Mexico calculated the maximum power he achieved at 2619.5 watts, which is roughly 3.5 horsepower. While this is far less than the power output of a car engine, it’s still impressive considering the speed at which he was moving!
In essence, horsepower became a standard unit of measurement because of its marketing appeal in the 19th century, and it remains in use today, despite being somewhat of an outdated reference. But when we hear a car engine’s horsepower rating, it’s still rooted in the historical comparison to the power of a horse.
READ/SPEAK
Tell us about the most interesting things you know about cars.
Tell us about your dream car. Why is it your dream car?
Have you ever driven a car with high horsepower? If so, how was the experience?
Do you think people focus too much on horsepower when buying cars, or are there more important factors?
Would you rather drive a powerful sports car or a reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle? Why?
Miss the boat means: losing an opportunity to do something by being slow to act.
“There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to buy some.”
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Tell us about the opportunities you have missed or caught in your life. How did they change your life?