Soccer Players Now Aware of their Responsibilities

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. get away with [get uh-WEY with] (phrasal v.) – to succeed in avoiding punishment after doing something bad

Example: Drug tests ensure that athletes will not get away with cheating.

2. accountable [uh-KOUN-tuh-buh l] (adj.) – required to explain and take responsibility for one’s actions, decisions or behavior

Example:  The coach is accountable for whatever actions his team does.

3. scrutiny [SKROOT-n-ee] (n.) – a close and careful observation and examination

Example: The athlete came under scrutiny after being involved in illegal activities.

4. tactic [TAK-tik] (n.) – an action or plan used to achieve a desired result

Example: The player’s football tactics helped the team win the game.

5. take heed [teyk heed] (v. phrase) – to pay attention to something

Example:  The football player took heed of his coach’s advice and succeeded in winning the game.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Soccer superstars should now act more responsibly after a biting incident between players during the English Premier [PREM ih yair] League was televised last month. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez bit the arm of Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a soccer match in early May. In 2010, Suarez was also caught biting an opponent during a Dutch League Game and was banned for seven matches. Last season, he racially abused a player from Manchester United and served an eight-match ban. Pedro Pinto, a CNN World Sport anchor, says that Suarez could have gotten away with the biting incident twenty years ago. But with today's extensive coverage and exposure of the league, players are increasingly held accountable for their actions. The Premier League is broadcasted in 212 territories and is watched by 4.7 billion people worldwide, making it the most watched soccer competition in the world. Each game is shot by 20 cameras and televised in HD. Because each game is televised worldwide, soccer players from the Premier League are now considered superstars, having money, fame and admiration from millions of fans. However, these players are always under close scrutiny in and out the soccer field. Some players admitted using various tactics before, such as poking or pinching when the referee wasn't looking, to distract opponents during the game. But now, players are forced to behave well and take responsibility for their actions. According to Pinto, players should take heed of and learn from the Suarez incident. Players should realize that a superstar status comes with great responsibility.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Why should superstars be responsible for their actions? Please explain your answer.

         What do you think are the best things about being a superstar? What are the worst things?

Discussion B

         How would you behave if you knew that other people are watching all your actions?

         How do you think can people avoid hurting each other or misbehaving during a competition?

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It's Better to Be Confident Than Correct

 

For Pundits, It's Better to Be Confident Than Correct

enlarge

Jadrian Wooten, left, and Ben Smith analyzed a billion tweets and found the popularity of a pundit hinges more on whether he or she is confident than right. (Credit: Photo courtesy of Washington State University)

It would be nice to think the pundits we see yelling on TV and squawking on Twitter are right all the time. It turns out they're wrong more often than they are right.

Now two Washington State University economics students have demonstrated that it simply doesn't pay as much for a pundit to be accurate as it does to be confident. It's one thing to be a good pundit, but another to be popular.

"In a perfect world, you want to be accurate and confident," says Jadrian Wooten. "If you had to pick, being confident will get you more followers, get you more demand."

Wooten made his discovery with Ben Smith, a fellow doctoral candidate in economics. Smith originally wanted to test the accuracy and confidence of stock market pundits, taking inspiration from stock watcher and CNBC host Jim Cramer, whom Wooten describes as "the yelling genius that he thinks he is."
But stock predictions rarely come with a date at which one could say a pundit was right or wrong. Sporting events do, so Smith made a software program to sort through more than 1 billion tweets for predictions of the 2012 baseball playoffs and World Series and the 2013 Super Bowl.

The program pulled out tweets with team names, nicknames and expressions commonly associated with predictions, like "beat." Where they might rate the confidence of a television pundit by how loudly he or she yelled, a scale of word strength pegged words like "vanquish," "destroy" and "annihilate" as expressions of confidence.

Their hypothesis: Pundits have a false sense of confidence because that's what the public, seeking to avoid the stress of uncertainty, craves.

"They're trading away some of their accuracy to be a Jim Cramer," says Wooten. "'I might not be right all the time but I can yell louder than this other guy.'"

Wooten and Smith looked at both professional pundits -- celebrities with verified Twitter accounts -- and amateurs claiming some sports expertise. Both were worse at predicting than the 50-50 odds of a coin toss. Professionals were right 47 percent of the time, a hair better than the 45 percent accuracy of amateurs. But the professionals were more confident, scoring a .480 confidence rating to the amateurs' .313.
And confidence pays -- far better than accuracy.

If a professional pundit accurately predicted every game of the baseball playoffs and series, Wooten and Smith estimated his or her Twitter following would increase 3.4 percent. An amateur would get 7.3 percent more followers.

But a professional whose confidence knows no bounds would increase his or her following by nearly 17 percent and an amateur would see a nearly 20 percent rise in followers.

The outlier of the field could be Nate Silver, the statistician and New York Times political blogger. He's both cautious and accurate. But owing in large part to his correctly calling all 50 states in the recent presidential election, he's popular.

By and large, say Smith and Wooten, pundits get a better audience through confidence and the excitement it generates.

"There is some psychological literature on the idea that people hate uncertainty," says Smith. "The fact that people don't like uncertainty would suggest that they don't like the idea of a Nate Silver sort of person standing up there and saying, 'I'm only 90 percent sure.'"

"I like to think of it like a roulette wheel," says Wooten." If you have somebody just placing bets, that person is kind of boring. But if you have someone going, 'Oh, yeah! It's red!' and they are confident, that's the person that you are interested in."

Smith and Wooten outlined their findings earlier this year at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Economics and Finance. They plan to publish a paper on their method in an open-source journal, helping researchers, business people and others pose all sorts of questions to the vast amounts of data on the Internet.

---

Story Source:  Washington State University (2013, May 28). For pundits, it's better to be confident than correct. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 29, 2013.

Fame is linked to Shorter Lives, Study Says

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. obituary [oh-BICH-oo-er-ee] (n.) – an article or an announcement of a person’s death, often in newspapers

Example: The famous actor’s death was announced in obituaries of several newspapers.

2. life span [lahyf span] (n.) – the amount of time that a living organism exists

Example: Studies show that Japanese people have long life spans.

3. academe [AK-uh-deem, ak-uh-DEEM] (n.) – a learning institution, especially a college or a university

Example: She wants to work for the academe because of her love for education.

4. conclusive [kuh n-KLOO-siv] (adj.) – proven as a fact or without a doubt

Example: Several studies present conclusive findings that confirm the link between smoking and lung cancer.

5. stressor [STRES-er, -awr] (n.) – an activity or situation that causes stress

Example: Peer pressure is one of the man’s major stressors.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A recent study revealed that performers and athletes die earlier compared to people with different professions. Australian researchers analyzed 1,000 obituaries from the New York Times to observe the relationship between fame and shorter life spans.  The study was published in an international journal of medicine. Results showed that actors, singers, musicians, and athletes died at an average age of 77, while authors, composers, and artists died at 79. On the other hand, people working in the academe such as historians and economists lived for an average of 82 years, while those who were successful in business and politics lived until the age of 83. The study also found that lung cancer was the most common cause of death among the performers. An author of the study believes that the tendency among performers to smoke or use harmful drugs to improve their performance may have caused this particular result. To provide a scientific explanation for the findings, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James stated that a career established in fame may present stressors that encourage risk-taking behaviors. She also believed that certain types of personality influence one’s desire for fame. Although the findings of the study are not conclusive, the authors pointed out that the results raise important questions about the possible consequences of fame. The findings also serve as a warning among young individuals who dream of becoming famous in the future.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you agree that fame can be negative and destructive in some situations? Why do you think so?

         What do you think are the disadvantages of being a celebrity and living in fame? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         Do you think it is difficult to live a very famous life? Why do you think so?

         How do you think can people live normally despite being famous?

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Change, Conflict Cue Memories of Life's Milestones

Understanding how and why people do things is critical knowledge for any writer of fiction and non-fiction.  Memory such as used in flash-back scenes, is a fickle mistress.  Some types of events most people remember, others you can't recall to save your life.  To craft a believable story, what causes people to remember what type of events?  While this study focuses on the Canadian life experience, the researchers' report of this study offers some clues that apply to us all.

What will your kids remember about the life stories you tell them? New University of Alberta research shows that they're likely to be able to recall transitional moments you share with them, be it promotions or pets. The research offers strong evidence that societal values significantly affect how people think about and recall events in their lives -- and how we potentially carry old values and beliefs forward in a new country.

Psychology researchers Connie Svob and Norman Brown conducted interviews with two groups of participants, split evenly between people born in Canada and people whose parents emigrated from a country in upheaval. Each group was asked to identify the 10 most important events in their lives, when they occurred and whether the event had a psychological impact on them.

The results paint similar pictures of what people considered important, but showed striking differences in terms of the milestone events that often served as a backdrop.

"We were mainly interested in the historical context and how that gets transmitted," said Svob. "When a parent has lived through a historical event, how does that get passed on to the next generation -- and to what extent does it get passed on?"

Marking transitions: Dogs and divorce
Education, birth, death and marriage were among the top five major events mentioned by both groups, and most other major types of life events were separated by only a couple of percentage points.
What separated the groups were distinct elements or life markers that only appeared within one group. Seven per cent of what was labelled the conflict group recounted historical events their parents lived through, or their military service. Among the non-conflict group, six per cent cited attendance at a major sporting event, or the acquisition or loss of a family pet.

"We seem to be positively predisposed to detect and remember change," said Svob. "This cognitive capacity appears to extend to higher levels of cognition -- specifically, the ways in which we remember our lives and our histories."

Tying life to historical context: The Cup and coups
The researchers also asked participants to tie the events in their parents' lives to historical events. Svob notes that 25 per cent of the events mentioned by the conflict group were related to wars or other strife. For the Canadian contingent, the respondents anchored the memories to another type of conflict: sporting events.

"That's our history -- the Stanley Cup, the riots, the Olympics -- that's probably what we're going to remember," she said.

Thanks for the memories: Remembrance and public impact
Svob says Edmonton and the U of A were ideal places to undertake a research project like this, noting the city's rich and open ethnic diversity, and the institution's diverse international student base.

She says determining what people retain from their cultural history has benefits in terms of helping them retain their identity. But she notes that it also identifies lingering cultural issues related to ethnic out-groups -- issues that become important to manage, especially in Canada's ever-expanding cultural landscape.

She hopes the results from the study can be used to develop ways of bridging these narratives to the Canadian context, ensuring that newcomers thrive in adopting the peace and harmony of their new home.

"We were able to collect data that explore potentially contentious issues," said Svob. "It implies that the conflict-knowledge -- and its related attitudes and beliefs -- are carried forward among first-generation Canadians.

"To minimize xenophobia in Canada, interventions in schools and within other transition-related immigration programs could happen at the level of parental narratives concerning their war experiences."

*  *  *  *  *

Story source:  University of Alberta (2013, May 29). Change, conflict cue memories of life's milestones.

People Can 'Beat' Guilt Detection Tests

People Can 'Beat' Guilt Detection Tests by Suppressing Incriminating Memories

New research published by an international team of psychologists has shown that people can suppress incriminating memories and thereby avoid detection in brain activity guilt detection tests.

Such tests, which are commercially available in the USA and are used by law enforcement agencies in several countries, including Japan and India, are based on the logic that criminals will have specific memories of their crime stored in their brain. Once presented with reminders of their crime in a guilt detection test, it is assumed that their brain will automatically and uncontrollably recognise these details, with the test recording the brain's 'guilty' response.

However, research by psychologists at the universities of Kent, Magdeburg and Cambridge, and the Medical Research Council, has shown that, contrary to this core assumption, some people can intentionally and voluntarily suppress unwanted memories -- in other words, control their brain activity, thereby abolishing brain activity related to remembering. This was demonstrated through experiments in which people who conducted a mock crime were later tested on their crime recognition while having their electrical brain activity measured. Critically, when asked to suppress their crime memories, a significant proportion of people managed to reduce their brain's recognition response and appear innocent.

This finding has major implications for brain activity guilt detection tests, among the most important being that those using memory detection tests should not assume that brain activity is outside voluntary control, and any conclusions drawn on the basis of these tests need to acknowledge that it might be possible for suspects to intentionally suppress their memories of a crime and evade detection.

---

Story Source:  Zara M. Bergström, Michael C. Anderson, Marie Buda, Jon S. Simons, Alan Richardson-Klavehn. Intentional retrieval suppression can conceal guilty knowledge in ERP memory detection tests. Biological Psychology, 2013,

Utah Finally Allows Inmates to Donate Organs

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. atone [uh-TOHN] (v.) – to do good as payment for one’s offense or crime

Example: The teenager needs to do 100 hours of community service to atone for his crime.  

           

2. prohibit [proh-HIB-it] (v.) – to not allow a person from doing something

Example: Jail visitors are prohibited from bringing any sharp object.

3. coercion [koh-UR-shuh n] (n.) – the use of force or power to get a person to do something

Example: The police used coercion to make the suspect confess about the crime.

4. means to an end [meens too an end] (idiom) – describes an action done only to achieve another hidden purpose

Example: Some people use organ donation as a means to an end, hoping to earn money instead of just helping a person in need.

5. plea  [plee] (n.) – a request that is usually emotional

Example: The prisoner made plea so he can see his family.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

The governor of Utah, U.S.A. authorized the first state law that allows prisoners, even those in the death row, to register as an organ donor last March 28, 2013. Utah State Representative Steve Eliason pushed the law after being inspired by the story of Ronnie Lee Gardner. Gardner is a murderer who wished to donate his organs but was banned to do so. Steve Eliason felt disappointed when someone who may want to atone for his or her sins by donating organs is prohibited from doing so. However, an ethics expert says that coercion might arise if a population as vulnerable as prisoners would be allowed to donate their organs. Prisoners might be pressured especially because the country has nearly 118,000 people waiting for organ donations. According to Dr. Paul R. Helft, a non-believer of organ donations for death penalty prisoners, the prisoners would just use the law as a means to an end. Other barriers may also exist, such as the high number of diseased prisoners and the execution methods that may make the organs no longer useful. On the other hand, Christian Longo, an Oregon death row inmate, believes that every organ donor can save many lives. Longo has been working hard to make Oregon officials consider his request but unfortunately been denied. He even created a Facebook page and has written a plea in New York Times about organ donation. Longo considers Utah as the first success in his battle and says that he will use this success to convince Oregon to do the same.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think prisoners should or should not be allowed to donate their organs? Why do you say so?

         Why do you think some people want to donate their organs? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         Should the law make an exception in favor of a dying man’s request? Why or why not?

         If the need arises, would you accept an organ from someone you barely know? Why is that so?

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Australian Movie Industry Suffers Due to Strong Currency

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. picturesque [pik-chuh-RESK] (adj.) – visually beautiful and charming, like a painting

Example:  The picturesque Himeji Castle is a popular destination among tourists.

2. shoot [shoot] (v.) – to film or to take a photograph

Example:  Film productions need a permit to shoot in public places.

3. blockbuster [BLOK-buh s-ter] (n.) – something very popular and successful (like a movie, novel, show, etc.)

Example: The blockbuster movie “Titanic” earned a total of $1.84 billion in ticket sales worldwide.

4. jeopardy [JEP-er-dee] (n.) – risk or danger

Example:  Making sudden decisions can put your career in jeopardy.

5. back [bak] (v.) – to give support to someone or something

Example:  The government backed and funded the film project.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

With its picturesque landscapes, Australia has long been a popular filming location among international film producers. However, the country's strong currency is now causing a decrease in the number of foreign productions shooting in Australia. Numerous films have been made in Australia, including blockbusters like Star Wars Episode II and III, the Matrix Trilogy, Mission Impossible 2 and Moulin Rouge [moo-LAN roozh]. From 2000 to 2009, Australia gained an average of US $137 million each year from foreign productions. But as the Australian dollar became stronger and stronger, movie makers started to look for cheaper alternatives. As a result, Australia gained about $1 million in 2010 and $3 million in 2011. No major foreign movie was made in the country during those years. In an effort to win back filmmakers, the Australian government is offering incentives, grants and tax cuts. For instance, the government will give a $22 million grant to Disney to shoot a film in Australia. According to ministers, the money will be well spent because foreign productions create jobs, generate investments and uphold Australia as one of the world's best filming locations. However, some people say that Australia should focus on its domestic film industry rather than spend millions to attract foreign producers. Ignoring the local industry might cause long-term damage and put thousands of jobs in jeopardy. Peter Krausz [krouz], chairman of the Australian Film Critics Association, says foreign movies do not reflect Australian values, culture, and stories. Australia should back its own movies that feature the country itself, Krausz added.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think Australia should focus on attracting international filmmakers or on strengthening its local movie industry? Why do you say so?

         What do you prefer:  a foreign or a local film? Please explain your answer. 

Discussion B

         What, for you, is the most important aspect of a movie? (Plot, characters, visuals like scenery or computer graphics, etc.) Please explain your answer.

         If you could make your own film, what would it be about and why?

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