Unit1BewareandtakecareReadingFightingthehiddenenemy—awarwemustwinAnenemyappearedwithoutwarning,attackingitsunsuspectingvictimswithefficiency.Thissilentandinvisibleenemymovedswiftlythroughcommunitiesandsecretlycrossedborders.TheworldsoonlearntthattheenemywefacedwasCovid-19.Covid-19iscausedbyanewstrainofcoronavirus.Onceenteringthebody,thevirusmultipliesinsidethecellquicklyandinfectsneighbouringcells.Commonsymptomscanincludefever,tiredness,adrycough,aheadache,lossoftasteorsmell.However,insomecases,theviruscausesthebody'sownimmunesystemtooverreact,resultinginthebodykillingitsownhealthycells.Consequently,thediseasecanbecomeworse,causingdamagetothebody'sorgansandtissues.Covid-19isahighlyinfectiousdiseasethatcanbetransmittedeasilyandswiftlyfrompersontoperson.Thistypicallyhappenswhenpeopletakeinrespiratorydropletsandparticlesfromaninfectedperson.TheycanalsocatchCovid-19bytouchingasurfaceoranobjectcontaminatedwiththevirus,andthentouchingtheirownmouth,noseoreyes.Researchshowsthattherearecertainsettingsthatallowthevirustospreadmoreeasily.Forinstance,itfavourscool,dryconditionsandcrowdedindoorspaceswithpoorventilation.Whatmakesthisdiseaseevenmoredangerousisthatinfectedpeoplewhoshownosymptomsmaybecomeunknowingcarriersandspreadersofthevirus.Inearly2020,thethreatposedbyCovid-19cametobefullyrecognizedonaglobalscale.Itspreadrapidlyacrosstheworld,affectingmillionsofpeople.Moredangerously,newandevenmoreinfectiousvariantsofthevirus,suchastheDeltaandOmicronvariants,graduallybegantoevolveinvariouspartsoftheworld,presentinganincreasedthreattothehealthoftheworld'spopulation.Tobeatthissilentenemy,theworldpulledtogether.Governmentsjoinedforceswithleadingpharmaceuticalandbiotechnologycompaniessothatvaccinescouldbeproduced,distributedandadministeredinrecordtime.Doctorsandnursessteppedforwardtojointhefightandwentwherevertheywereneeded,riskingtheirownlivestotirelesslyserveandcareforpatients.Communityworkersandvolunteersworkedroundtheclocktodeliverfoodandmedicinestoresidents.Ordinarypeoplefromallwalksoflifeunitedinhelpingthoseaffectedbythepandemic.Simpleactsofkindnessandgenerositywereeverywhere.InthedarkestdayswhenCovid-19wasdoingitsworst,thehumanspiritshoneatitsbrightest.WhilethefightagainstCovid-19isaglobaleffort,therearepreventivemeasuresthateveryonecantaketohelpcontrolthespreadofthedisease.Firstly,personalhygieneiskey.Cleanyourhandswithsoapandwaterthoroughly.Useanalcohol-basedhandsanitizerifsoapandwaterarenotavailable,andavoidtouchingyourmouth,noseandeyeswithunwashedhands.Athomeoratwork,cleananddisinfectfrequentlytouchedsurfacesandobjects.Secondly,wheninpublicplaces,remembertowearafacemask,practisesocialdistancingandavoidlargecrowds.Thirdly,receiveaCovid-19vaccinetohelpyourbodybuildupimmunityagainstthevirus.Finally,seekmedical

attentionifyoushowanyofthesymptomsorhavereasontobelievethatyouhavebeenexposedtothevirus.Bystayingalertandfollowinggovernmentadviceandregulations,wenotonlyprotectourselves,butalsohelpprotectourfellowcitizens.OurfightagainstCovid-19hasshownusthatwearenowlivinginahumancommunitywithasharedfuture.Onlybyworkingtogether,whileacceptingourindividualresponsibilities,canwesolvebothnationalandglobalproblems.Weneedtosupporteachothersothatwecanmarchconfidently,arminarm,intoabetterandmoresecurefuture.ExtendedreadingSaynotodrugsGoodmorning,everyone.Asapoliceofficerwhohasspentmanyyearsworkinginthefrontlineofthefightagainstdrugs,Ihavewitnessed,alltoooften,thedestructiveimpactthatdrugscanhaveonindividuals,familiesandthewidercommunity.Ihaveseenhowdrugscandestroypeople'sphysicalandmentalwell-beingandruinyounglivesbeforetheyevenbegin.Ihaveseenhowfamiliesaretornapartafterafamilymemberhasbecomeaddictedtodrugs.Ihavealsoseenhowtirelesslytheforcesoflawandorderworktogetherinfightingagainstdrugs.Iwillnotexaggeratethescaleoftheproblem,asthefactsspeakforthemselves.Accordingtothe2021WorldDrugReport,itisestimatedthataround275millionpeopleuseddrugsworldwideandover36millionpeoplesufferedfromdrugusedisordersinthelastyear.Theseshockingfiguresindicatethatdrugabuseisaveryseriousglobalproblem.Therefore,itiseveryone'sresponsibilitytosaynotodrugs.Drugabusehurtsanindividualdruguserbothphysicallyandmentally.Themostserioushealthconditionsassociatedwithdrugabuseincludeheartproblems,respiratoryproblems,kidneyfailure,liverdamageandaweakenedimmunesystem,increasingtheriskofillnessandinfection.Moreover,drugsinterferewithaperson'sabilitytomakesensibledecisions.Consequently,peopleundertheinfluenceofdrugsarenolongerincontroloftheirownmindandlikelytoputthemselvesorothersingreatdanger.Theyalsosufferfrommemorylossandmooddisorderslikedepressionoranxiety.Apartfromitsharmtoindividuals,drugabusealsodestroysfamiliesandimpactssocietyasawhole.Druguserssometimeslieandstealtofueltheirhabit,whileignoringtheresponsibilitiestheyhavetotheirfamilies.Thiscanleadtonotonlyfinancialhardshipbutalsothebreakdownofoncestrongfamilyrelationshipsandthelossofstabilitywithinthefamily.Theimpactdrugabusehasonsocietyisalsoenormous.Undertheinfluenceofdrugs,drugusersmayexhibitviolentbehaviourandsometimesevencommitcriminalacts,threateningpublicsafety.Theyarewillingtodoanythingtogettheirhandsondrugs.Also,becausedrugusersneedaregularsupplyofdrugs,thecriminalunderworldquicklydevelops,eatingawayatthefabricofsociety.Knowingtheseriousdamagethatcanbecausedthroughtheuseofdrugs,youmaybeaskingyourself:whywouldanybodybefoolishenoughtostarttakingdrugs?Thereisnosimpleanswertothisquestion,buttherearewell-identifiedriskfactorsfordrugabuse.Somepeopleexperimentwith

drugssimplyoutofcuriosity,someregarddruguseasanescapefromthestressesofeverydaylife,andothersstarttousedrugsjustbecausepeoplearoundthemaredrugusers.Fortunately,therearethingsyoucandotoprotectyourselffromdruguse.Firstofall,drugeducationisofvitalimportance.Youshouldlearnmoreaboutdrugs,especiallynewdesignerdrugs,whichareincrediblydangerous.Themoreyouknowabouttheterribleconsequencesoftakingdrugs,themorelikelyyouaretostayawayfromthem.Secondly,youneedtochoosewhereyougoandwhoyouspendtimewithverycarefully.Makesureyousurroundyourselfwithfriendswhoyoucanreallycountonandturntoforsupport.Lastbutnotleast,shouldyouevercomeunderpressuretousedrugs,youmustimmediatelyseekassistancefromanadultwhoyoulookupto,suchasafamilymember,ateacheroradoctor.Inconclusion,Ihopemymessageisclear——saynotoanykindofdrug.Themosteffectivewaytoavoidalltheproblemscausedbytheuseofdrugsisnottousetheminthefirstplace.Unit2BuildingthefutureReadingRenewableenergy:agiftforthefutureTherewasonceavillagesurroundedbyfertilefieldswithfarmerstendingtheircropsandfarmanimalsgrazinglazilybelowamightymountain.Thencoalwasdiscovered,andsoontitanic-sizedearth-diggingmachinescircledthevillage.Villagerseagerlyacceptedthehigh-paidjobstheminingcompanyprovided,bringingatemporaryeconomicboom.Meanwhile,themachinescutthrougheverythingintheirpathtoaccessthecoalburiedbeneath.Manyyearslater,allthatremainedwasadesertedvillageandanenormoushole.Thescenarioistragic,butitonlypartlydescribesthedamagingeffectsfossilfuelshaveontheenvironmentwhentheyaremined.Actually,onceburnt,theyproducealargequantityofcarbondioxide,whichinturntrapsheatandcausesglobalwarming.Humansareclearlyfacingacriticalmoment,soamovetowardsclean,renewableenergyisinevitable.Renewableenergysources,whichincludesolar,wind,hydroelectric,tidal,biomassandgeothermalenergy,areperfectalternativestofossilfuels.Oneofthereasonsisthattheircarbondioxideemissionstendtobelower.Astudyfoundthatrenewableenergysourcesemitabout50gorlessofcarbondioxideperkilowatt-hourovertheirlifetime,comparedtoabout1,000gforcoal.Besides,fossilfuelsarenon-renewable,whosereservesareestimatedtodryuponedayinthefuture.Incontrast,renewableenergysourcesarebasicallyinexhaustibleandwillbeavailabletousforafewbillionmoreyearsifourplanetremainssafeandhealthy.Countriesaroundtheworldareracingtowardsalow-carbonfuturebyinvestinginrenewableenergysources.Renewableenergyisnowgraduallybeingintegratedintoinfrastructures,suchastransport,communicationandpowersupplysystems.Chinaisoneofthecountriesembracingtherenewableenergyrevolution.Chinamanufacturesstate-of-the-artsolarpanelsandwindturbines,andisthegloballeaderintheproductionofbatteriestopowerelectricvehiclesandstorerenewable

energyonpowergrids.Renewableenergyconsumptionaccountsformorethan20percentofitstotalenergyconsumption,andthisfigureisincreasing.Overthepastdecade,Chinahasbeenaheadinthedevelopmentandapplicationofcleanenergytechnologies.So,withtheseadvantagesanddevelopments,whynotcompletelyreplacefossilfuelswithrenewableenergy?Thetruthisthatproducingpowerfromrenewableenergysourcescanbechallenging.Renewableenergysourcesarenotavailableeverywhereandatanygivenmoment.Forinstance,tidalenergyisonlyavailableincoastalareas;solarandwindenergycannotproducepower24/7.Agreaterchallengeisstoringanyextraenergyinbatteriesforlateruse.Mostcurrentbatteriesdonothaveastoragecapacitylargeenoughtomeetourdailypowerdemands.Certainhigh-capacitybatteriespresentproblems,suchashighmanufacturingcostsandrelatedenvironmentaldamage.Forinstance,miningfortheraremetalsusedinthebatteriesisexpensive,andwhennotproperlyrecycled,thebatteriesleakdangerouschemicalsintotheenvironment.Withthesechallengesinmind,afuturewithrenewableenergymaybedifficulttopredict.However,itispossible.Renewableenergysourcesexistinallkindsofplaces,includingspace.Space-basedsolarpowerprojectsaimtocollectsolarenergyinouterspaceanddistributeiteverywhereitisneededontheEarth.Asolarcollectorwouldbeplacedinalocationwherethereisconstantsunlighttocapturehigherlevelsofsolarenergyforlongerperiods.Scientistsarealsoworkinghardtosolvetheenergystorageproblems.Thermalbatteries,forinstance,canstoretheextrarenewableenergyasheatuptotheextremelyhightemperatureof1,000℃inaninexpensivestoragemediumlikesandorwater.Comparedwithcommonbatteries,thesethermalbatteriesareconsiderablycheaper,andhavealongerlifeaswellasahigherstoragecapacity.Betterstill,theyarecompletelyrecyclable.Withoutdoubt,renewableenergywillformabigpartofourfuture.Lookingforward,weshouldinvestinnewtechnologiesandinnovativethinkingthatopenthedoortoawholenewworldwherewedecreaserelianceonfossilfuels.Renewableenergy——awelcomegiftforourfuture——willhelpusbuildagreenerandhealthierworld.ExtendedreadingGlobalwarming:islandsinhotwaterThePacificOceancoversaroundonethirdoftheEarth'ssurface.Scatteredacrossthisoceanarethousandsofislands.Inrecentyears,thepeopleoftheseislandshavenoticedtidesgettinghigherandstormsgettingworse.Andtheywonder——istheirworldabouttochange?Sadly,thefactisthattheislandsinthePacific,especiallylow-lyingcoralones,aresufferingtheseriouseffectsofglobalwarming.Asglobaltemperaturesincrease,sodosealevels.IncreasingtemperaturescausesicesheetsandglaciersattheNorthandSouthPolestomelt,releasingadditionalwaterintotheocean.Warmwateralsotakesupmoreroomthancoolwater,soastheoceanwarms,sealevelsrisefurther.Scientistsexpectsealevelsworldwidemayriseby0.6to1.1metresormoreby2100iftheplanetcontinuesto

warm.OnthePacificislands,themostobvioussignofrisingsealevelsisthatathightide,watermovesfurtherinlandtoflowintohousesandoverroads.Infact,beachesorevenwholeislandsaredisappearing:fiveoftheSolomonIslandshavealreadyvanishedbeneaththewavessince1947!Increasingsealevelsalsocontaminatetheislands’freshwatersupplies.Whensaltyseawaterseepsthroughthegroundandgetsintowells,thewaterbecomesuselessfordrinkingandirrigation.Besides,growingsealevelsinterferewithsomeislands'naturalreshapingprocesses.Usually,wavesgraduallyremovesandfromonesideofanislandanddumpnewsandontheotherside.Unfortunately,however,risingwavesacceleratetheprocess,andthiscertainlycausesproblemsforanyonewholivesonthesidethatisbeingwashedaway.Meanwhile,increasingglobaltemperaturescanhavedisastrousconsequencesinotherways.Extremetemperaturesgenerateextremerainfallpatterns.Consequently,theislandsgowithoutlife-sustainingrainfallformonths,leadingtocropfailureandreducedfreshwaterreserves.Thensuddenlytoomuchcomesatonce,andprecioussoilandhomesarewashedawaybythefloods.Forexample,onthehillyCookIslands,stormshavegivenrisetolandslidesthatcarryislanders'homesdownthehillsides.Additionally,theannualtropicalcyclonesarebecomingstrongerandhappeningmorefrequently,resultinginmoreseverefloodingandlandslides.Whatismore,astheoceanwarms,manycoralreefs,whichactasnaturalbarrierandarehometoarichdiversityofoceanspecies,aredying.Heatandextracarbondioxideintheatmospherehurtthecoralsthatbuildthereefs.Withouthealthyreefs,fishmoveaway,andtheislandershavelesstoeat.Despitethechallenges,theislandersarenotgivingupwithoutafight.Formanyislandcommunities,fightingclimatechangeisnotachoice;itisamatterofsurvival.Theyareworkingwithscientistsandlearningtoprotecttheirhomesfromfloodingandstormsurgesbybuildingseawallsfromoldbitsofcoralreefs.Theyarecuttingdownfewertrees,sincetreesholdontosoil.Theyarealsoplantingmangrovetreestoprotectthecoastalareas.Tokeepthedamagingsaltawayfromtheircrops,theyaregrowingcropsincontainers.Theyarelookingforcropsthatdonotmindsaltywater.Hopefully,theycanfindawaytostayontheirislands,atleastforawhile.However,someislandershavemadealife-changingdecision——movingawayfromtheocean.Itisbynomeanseasyastheoceanhasbeenpartoftheirlivesforgenerations.AnentirevillageontheislandofVanuaLevuinFijiabandonedtheircoastalhomestomoveupintothehills.Fortunately,theycouldbeginanewlife:buyingland,buildingnewhousesandgrowingpineapples.Somemisstheiroldlifebythesea,butatleastthehillsproviderefugefromtherisingsea,andtheyarestilltogether.Manyofthosewhoseislandshavenohillsarelookingforhomesonnewislands,oreveninnewcountries.Mostdonotwanttoleave,butwiththeoceanmovingin,theyfeeltheyhavenochoice.Nomatterwhatsolutionstheislandersdevelop,theirislandsarestillinhotwater.Globalwarmingrequiresnotonlyislanderstofightback.Afterall,wearelivinginahumancommunitywithasharedfuture.Maybewecantakealessonfromtheoceans.MeltingiceintheArcticmakeshigherwavesinFijibecausealltheoceansareconnected——therearenowallsbetweenthem.Changeone,changeall.Ifweneedtotackletheproblemofclimatechange,wewillhavetoworktogetherasone.

Unit3HelpingpeopleReadingTheUnitedNations——bringingpeopletogetherIn1945,theworldwasonitsknees.Citieslayinruins,economiesweredestroyed,tensofmillionsofpeoplewerekilled,andfamiliesacrosstheglobewerehomelessandmourningthelossoflovedones.WorldWarII,thedeadliesthumanconflictofalltime,hadshatteredpeople'sliveseverywhere.FromtheashesofthisutterdestructionrosetheorganizationthatwenowknowastheUnitedNations(UN),offeringhopetoaworlddesperateforlastingpeaceandsecurity.Itismyprivilegeandpleasuretostandbeforeyoutodayandsharewithyoualittlebitaboutthiswonderfulorganization.TheUNwasofficiallyestablishedon24October1945,whentheUNCharter,thefoundingdocumentoftheorganization,cameintoforce.Thefollowingyear,thefirstmeetingoftheUNwasheldinLondonandwasattendedbyrepresentativesof51countries.Currently,theUNismadeupofover190MemberStates.Allofthemworktogethertomaintaininternationalpeaceandsecurity,protecthumanrights,deliverhumanitarianaid,promotesustainabledevelopmentandupholdinternationallaw.Overtheyears,theUNhasbeencommittedtofulfillingitsambitionofbeingtheoneplacewherealltheworld'snationscangathertogether,discusscommonproblems,andfindsharedsolutionsthatbenefitallofhumanity.InthewordsoftheUNSecretary-GeneralAntónioGuterres,“Wheninternationalcooperationworks,theworldwins.”TheUNbelievesthatinternationalcooperationplaysanessentialroleinaddressingmanyissues,suchascleanwater,povertyandeducation.Canyoubelievethatnearlyonethirdofthepopulationaroundtheworlddidnothaveaccesstosafedrinkingwateraboutadecadeago?TheUNhasrecognizedthecriticalimportanceoffreshwatertolifeonourplanetandrecommendedthateveryhumanbeingshouldhavebetween50and100litresofwaterperday,forbothpersonalanddomesticuses.Withthisendinview,theUNhascalledfortransboundarywatercooperationthroughalegalframeworkforwaterresourcesmanagement.Moreover,variouswaterprojectsmanagedbytheUNanditspartnersaimtoprovidecleanwaterforneedycommunities.Therehasbeenremarkableprogressoverthepastyears.Accordingtoa2021UNreport,thepercentageoftheglobalpopulationwitheasyaccesstosafelymanageddrinkingwaterservicesincreasedto74.3%.Increaseshavebeenseeninbothruralandurbanareas,motivatingtheUNtocontinueitstirelessworkofprovidingcleandrinkingwatertothosewhoneedit.Withregardtopoverty,theUNestimatesthataround10%oftheworld'spopulation,includingoneinsixchildren,liveinextremepoverty,unabletofulfiltheirmostbasicneeds.Thesefiguresarebothdepressinganddistressing.Notsurprisingly,therefore,endingpovertyistheUN'snumberoneSustainableDevelopmentGoal.Toeffectivelyfightpoverty,theUNfocusesonunderstandinghowpeopleexperiencepovertyinotherwaysbesidesincome.Health,educationandstandardoflivingarethreekeydimensionsthatcanreflectwhetherpeoplearebeingleftbehind.Thesedimensions

comprisetenindicators,suchasnutrition,yearsofschoolingandhousing.Withthisdata,theUNcanidentifytherootcausesofpovertyandworkwithgovernmentsandcommunitiestoensurethatthosecausesareefficientlyaddressed.ItisthebeliefoftheUNthateducationisthemostbasicbuildingblockofeverysocietyandthesinglebestinvestmentcountriescanmaketobuildprosperous,healthyandfairsocieties.However,duetovariouscircumstanceslikeinadequatelearningmaterialsorpoorschoolfacilities,learningisoftendifficultformanychildren.TheUnitedNationsChildren'sFund(UNICEF),whichisapartoftheUNsystem,hasmanyongoingeducationprogrammes.Oneofthese,theReimagineEducationinitiative,usestechnologytocreateonlinelearningopportunities,whichareaccessibletochildrenanywhereandanytime.Additionally,UNICEFsparesnoefforttoensuremorechildrenhaveaccesstotheireducationprogrammes.Theseprogrammeshelpremovelong-standingbarrierstolearning.supportingeverychild'srighttolearn.Toconclude,IdohopeyouhavefoundthisbriefinsightintotheworkoftheUNbothinspiringandstimulating.WhiletheUNisahugeglobalorganization,everyoneofuscandosomethingtomakeapositivedifference.ToquotethefamoushistorianandphilosopherHowardZinn,“Smallacts,whenmultipliedbymillionsofpeople,cantransformtheworld.”SoIurgeyoualltofindoutmoreabouthowyoucanmakeadifferencetooneperson,onesocietyortheworld,nomatterhowsmall.ExtendedreadingThechainofkindnessTherainwascomingdownsohardthateachdropseemedtoexplodeasithittheroofofthecar.Tomstrainedhiseyesandlookedoutintothecoal-blacknight,strugglingdesperatelytokeephiscarontheroad.Thewindscreenwipersworkedfuriouslytocleartheglass,buttheywerenotdoingmuchgood.Therainbeatdowncontinuously,itwascompletelydarkoutside,andtheroadwasdesertedexceptforhimandhiscar.Tomglancedinhisrear-viewmirror.Hecouldseehiswheelchairinthebackseatandquicklylookeddownathisthin,brokenlegs.Hecouldfeelafamiliarwaveofdespairstarttowashoverhim.Therainwasstillpoundingontheroofofthecarandhefeltasifhehadbeentrappedinsideadrum.Astheworldoutsidebegantocloseinonhim,Tomgaspedforbreath.Suddenly,aloudnoiseshookTomoutofhismomentofhopelessnessasthecarbegantobumpdowntheroad.“Great,”hethought,“aflattyre.”Withaheavysigh,Tombroughtthecartoastop,restinghisheadonthesteeringwheel,defeated!Afterafewseconds,helookedupandpeeredoutofthewindow.Therainseemedtohaveeasedalittle,andinthedistance,hecouldseealighttwinklingintheblackness.Withasenseofhopefulanticipation,Tomgentlyeasedthecartowardsthelight.Ashegotcloser,hecouldseealongdrivewayleadingtoasolitaryhouse.WhenTomapproachedthehouse,ayounggirlaroundtenyearsoldwasstandinginthedoorway.He

pulledupascloseashecouldandrolleddownthewindow.“Areyourparentsathome?”heshoutedoverthewindandrain.“IhaveaflattyreandIneedhelp,”Tomadded.“Waitaminute,”thegirlreplied.Sheturnedandwentintothehouse.Afewminuteslater,shereturnedwithanoldman.Thegirlheldhisarmandsmiledlovinglyupathim.“HowcanIhelp?”theoldmanaskedwithasmileonhisface.Tomexplainedtheproblemandadded,“Ineedhelpbecausemylegsareparalysed.”Thewordscameoutflat.Buthedidn'tknowhowelsehecouldconveythefactthatheneededhelpfromthisweakoldmaninthemiddleoftherainstorm.TheoldmansimplynoddedhisheadandaskedTomtoopenthebootofhiscar.Withthehelpofhisyoungassistant,theoldmanquicklygottowork.Occasionally,Tomleanedoutofthewindowtoseehowtheyweredoingwiththerepairs.Thetwowereconcentratingontheirwork,andtherainwassoakingthem.Onceagain,Tomcouldn'thelpbutfeelhewasuseless.Soontheoldmansteppedtothewindow.“You'reallset,”hesaid.Tomhadmoneyreadyandhandedittotheman,buthemadenomovetotakeit.Finally,theyounggirlsaid,“Grandfatherisblind.”Tomdidn'tknowwhattosay.Hejustgesturedtowardsthegirlandtheoldmanhelplesslyashestumbledthroughanexplanationthathewouldliketopaythemfortheirhelp.Thegrandfatherwavedahandinfrontofhisfaceandsaid,“Thereisnoneed.Justbecarefulaboutgettinghomeandcontinuethechainofkindness.”Tomeasedhiscardownthedrivewayandbackontotheroad.Therainwasnowonlyalightmist,revealingtheroadahead.Ashedrovethroughthenight,hefoundhimselflookingforwardtothejourneyahead.WhenTomeventuallyarrivedhome,heparkedhiscarinfrontofthehouseasusual.Helookedatthewheelchairrampthatledtohisfrontdoor.Beforetoday,thatramphadbeenaconstantreminderofhisowndisability,andeveryday,hecouldfeelitlaughingathim.However,achanceencounteronarainynightandanactofkindnessfromacompletestrangercametomakeTomseeeverythingdifferently.Overthenextfewdays,hekeptreplayingtheincidentoverandoverinhismind.Inspiredbythis,hecontactedhisdoctortoseeiftherewassomethinghecoulddotoincreasehismobility,hepursuedhislong-lostdreamofbecomingateacher,andhereconnectedwithhisfamily.PerhapsTomwasdisabledinoneway,buthedecidedthathewouldnotletthisdefinewhohewasorwhathecouldaccomplish.Mostimportantly,hebegantolookforwardtoeachnewdayandviewitasanopportunitytohelpotherssothathecouldcontinuethechainofkindness.

Unit4LawandorderReadingTherulesoflawHaveyoueverwonderedwhenandwherethelaworiginated?Around12,000yearsagointheMiddleEast,smallpermanentfarmingcommunitieswereestablished,changingtraditionalnomadichunter-gathererlifestyles.Differentgroupswerecloselylivingtogetheranddealingwithunfamiliarbehaviours,beliefsandattitudes.Topreventchaosandresolveconflicts,therulesofconductandconsequencesforunacceptablebehaviourswerecreated.Hence,theconceptoflawwasborn.ManyancientcivilizationsaroseintheMiddleEast,soitisnotsurprisingthatlawcodesfirstappearedthere.Theoldestdiscovered,theCodeofUr-Nammu,datesbacktoabout4,000yearsago.Thecodepresentedlawsinthecause-and-effectformat,astyleusedinnearlyalllatercodes.Anotheronediscovered,theCodeofHammurabi,wascomposedaround300yearslater,whichisoneofthelongest,best-organizedandbest-preservedlegaltexts.Thiscodewasamongthefirsttoimplementtheconcept“innocentuntilprovenguilty”.Bothcodeshavefeaturesincommon.Forinstance,theytreatedavarietyofmatters,butoftenignoredsomeimportantrules,becausesuchrulesweredeeplygroundedincustom.Overtime,lawsevolvetobecomemoresophisticatedandwide-ranging.Societiesconstantlytransform,solegalsystemsrespondaccordinglyandensurelawsremainrelevant.Thisresponsehappensinvariousways.Outdatedlawsareabolishedwhentheynolongercorrespondwiththeval