1 December
Success
What is success to you?
What do you do to be successful?
Do you know any success stories?
Tell us about things at which you are the most successful.
“When people succeed in life, it is because of hard work. Being lucky has nothing to do with success.” Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your idea.
What are the key qualities of a successful person?
Who is the most successful person you know personally?
What is one thing you would like to achieve in the next five years?
What are some habits that can lead to success?
Do you think social media makes people feel more or less successful?
What is the most difficult challenge you have faced on the road to success?
What does it mean to live a successful life?
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because of its marketing appeal in the 19th century, and it remains in use today, despite being somewhat of an outdated reference.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?
Used to tell someone rudely that you do not want to listen to anything he or she is going to say to you. When people use this expression, they also usually turn their face away from the other person and hold the palm of their hand out towards them.
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Tell us the last time you were in a boring situation or activity. What was boring about it? How do you think it would have been more interesting?