August 2008 lunar eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse will take place on August 16, 2008, the second of two lunar eclipses in 2008. Most of Eastern Europe and Africa, and a large portion of Western and Central Asia and India, Maldives will see the entire eclipse. South America, Eastern Asia and Australia will observe part of the event.
The partial eclipse is the second of the two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the first being a total eclipse on February 20, 2008. The next lunar eclipse will be a penumbral eclipse occurring on February 9, 2009, while the next total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010 [2].

ޝަމްސުއްދީން ސްކޫލްގެ 2008 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ އިންޓަރހައުސް ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތުގެ ތެރެއިން

ޝަމްސުއްދީން ސްކޫލްގެ އިނާމް ދިނުމުގެ ޖަލްސާ 15 އޯގަސްޓް 2008 ގައި ބާއްވަނީ

ސ.މީދޫ ޝަމްސުއްދީން ސްކޫލްގެ 2007 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ އިނާމް ދިނުމުގެ ޖަލްސާ 15 އޯގަސްޓް 2008 ވާ ހުކުރު ދުވަހުގެ ހެދުނުގެ ވަގުތެއްގައި ބާއްވާގޮތަށް ހަމަޖެހި އެކަމާއި ބެހޭ ތައްޔާރީތައް ވަރަށް ބާރަށް ކުރިއަށް އެބަދެއެވެ. މިޖަލްސާގެ ޗީފްގެސްޓަކީ ތަޢުލީމާއި ބެހޭ މިނިސްޓަރުކަމަށް މަޢުލޫމާތު ލިބިފައިވެއެވެ

ސ.އަތޮޅު މަދުރަސާގެ ރިހިޔޫބިލް ފާހަގަ ކުރަނީ

ސ.އަތޮޅުމަދަރުސާ އަށް 25 އަހަރު ވުމާއި ގުޅިގެން ރިހިޔޫބިލް ފާހަގަ ކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ބާއްވާ ޕްރޮގްރާމް ތަކެއް 15 އޯގަސްޓް ވާ ހުކުރު ދުވަހުގެރޭ ސ.މީދޫގައި ހުންނަ އެމަދުރަސާގެ ޢިމާރާތުގައި ބޭއްވުމާއި ބެހޭ ތައްޔާރީތައް ވަރަށް ބާރަށް ކުރިއަށް އެބަދެއެވެ. މިކަމަށް ތައްޔާރުކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ވޭތުވެދިޔަ ތިންދުވަހުގައި ވެސް މިސްކޫލްގެ ކިޔެވުމެއް ނުބާއްވައެވެ. ހުކުރު ދުވަހުގެ ރޭ ބޭއްވުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ކަންތަކުގެ ތެރޭ 2007 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ އިނާމް ދިނުމުގެ ޖަލްސާއާއި ކަލްޗަރަލް ޝޯއެއް ހިމެނޭކަމަށް ޢުލޫމާތު ލިބިފައިވެއެވެ

HOW DO PENGUINS LIVE ON SUCH A FREEZING CONTINENT AT THE SOUTH POLE?

Penguins live at the polar region of our planet. The unique feature of the pole is its amazing coldness and that it is always covered with snow and ice. The weather is so cold that it forms glaciers above the sea. Now, think about how cold you feel when you go out to play snowballs in the winter. You would feel cold even if you were wearing a sweater, a coat, a cap, a pair of gloves and a scarf. When you are playing snowballs, the temperature is probably only 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) below zero. The penguins live in a place where the temperature falls to 400 C (1040 F) below zero.
Moreover, the penguins don't have any coats, sweaters or gloves, and they live in a place that is a lot colder than ours. They walk on ice without any shoes and they don't even become sick. They don't have homes. They sleep on ice. If you were to lie down on ice for even a few minutes, you would become seriously sick. Nothing happens to the penguins. Why?

It is because Allah has created them in such a way that they can live in such a freezing environment. Penguins' bodies and their features are very different from ours. Due to this, they can live in the coldest weather without any difficulties.

Allah has covered penguins' bodies with a very thick layer of fat, so that they won't feel the cold. The layer of fat prevents them from feeling the cold, and acts as a fur. Conversely, the layer of fat surrounding our bodies is quite thin and this is why we quickly become cold. This is why we have to wear thick clothes in cold weather.
The penguin displays great devotion towards its eggs and babies. Penguins incubate their eggs during the coldest weather. Unlike other creatures, it is not the female penguin that incubates the eggs but the male. The female penguin lays only one egg and then leaves it to the male. She leaves for distant places to find food for her husband and baby. Because of all the ice and snow that surrounds them, she has to travel far to be able to find food.

The male penguin incubates the egg for exactly four months. The penguin carries the egg in between his feet and during these four months, he never once leaves it on the ground. If he were to do so, the egg would freeze and die within a matter of minutes.

The male penguin is so patient that for four months, he moves about with the egg between his feet. This is why he is unable to go hunting and remains hungry. The weather is very cold. When the weather becomes unbearably cold, all the male penguins get together even if they are carrying eggs between their feet. They come close to each other, forming a circle, and in this way, they warm each other up. They continuously switch positions so that the ones left outside the circle can also become warm. Just as the egg is about to hatch, the mother penguin returns from hunting. She feeds her baby with the food that she has stored in her throat. To prevent the baby from freezing, the mother and father penguins carry it in between their feet and keep it warm with the fur of their abdomen. As you can see, Allah has given these lovely creatures some exquisite features. Allah has created the penguin with a body that protects it from the cold, and has also made it very devoted. Because they are so dedicated, they take wonderful care of their offspring. This feature has been given to the penguins millions of years ago. The penguins that have lived before and the ones that are living now have not changed a bit when it comes to the devotion that they display.

އެހީވަމާތޯ ؟

ސ.މީދޫ އެރިޒޯނާ ޢާއިޝަތު ރިޝްމީ (10 އަހަރު ) އަށް ޓްރިވެންޑްރަމްގެ އާރުސީސީ އިން ކެންސަރުގެ ފަރުވާ ހޯދަމުން އަންނަތާ 4 އަހަރު ވެއްޖެއެވެ. އާރުސީސީ އިން އަންގަނީ އިތުރު ފަރުވާ ހޯދުމަށްޓަކައި އިންޑިޔާގެ ވެއްލޫރަށް ދިއުމަށެވެ. މިކުއްޖާގެ ބޭސްފަރުވާއަށް ގިނަ ޢަދަދެއްގެ ފައިސާ ބޭނުންވާތީ ހެޔޮއެދޭ ފަރާތްތަކުގެ އަވަސް އެހީއަކަށް އެދި ދެންނެވީމެވެ. ފައިސާ ޖަމާ ކުރައްވާނީ ތިރީގައި އެވާ އެކައުންޓަށެވެ. ޖަމާކުރާ ސްލިޕްގައި ބައި އޯޑަރ ޖެއްސެވުން އެދެމެވެ. ތިޔަ ފަރާތުން ޖަމާކުރައްވާ 1 ލާރިއަކީވެސް މިކުއްޖާއަށް ޓަކައި ދެވޭ ދީލަތި އެހީއެކެވެ.އިންޑިޔާއިން ނަމަ އެހީދެއްވާނީ ކުއްޖާގެ މަންމަ ނުޒުހާ އަށެވެ. ފޯން 00919995265127

Ibrahim Saeed
A/C No: 7716 302613 101
Bank of Maldives Hulhumeedhoo Branch

EDWARD JENNER (1749-1823)

SO, WHO WAS EDWARD JENNER?
Edward Jenner was an English country doctor who pioneered vaccination. Jenner's discovery in 1796 that inoculation with cowpox gave immunity to smallpox, was an immense medical breakthrough and has saved countless lives.
Edward Jenner was born on May 17 1749 in the small village of Berkeley in Gloucestershire. From an early age Jenner was a keen observer of nature and after nine years as a surgeon's apprentice he went to St George's Hospital, London to study anatomy and surgery under the prominent surgeon John Hunter. After completing his studies, he returned to Berkeley to set up a medical practice where he stayed until his death in 1823.
HOW DID EDWARD JENNER DISCOVER VACCINATION?
Jenner worked in a rural community and most of his patients were farmers or worked on farms with cattle. In the 18th century smallpox was a very common disease and was a major cause of death. The main treatment was by a method which had brought success to a Dutch physiologist Jan Ingenhaus and was brought to England in 1721 from Turkey by Lady Mary Wortly Montague. This method involved inoculating healthy people with substances from the pustules of those who had a mild case of the disease, but this often had fatal results.
In 1788 an epidemic of smallpox hit Gloucestershire and during this outbreak Jenner observed that those of his patients who worked with cattle and had come in contact with the much milder disease called cowpox never came down with smallpox. Jenner needed a way of showing that his theory actually worked.
Jenner was given the opportunity on the 14 May 1796, when a young milkmaid called Sarah Nelmes came to see him with sores on her hands like blisters. Jenner identified that she had caught cowpox from the cows she handled each day.

The hand of a person infected with cowpox
Jenner now had the opportunity to obtain the material try out his theories. He carefully extracted some liquid from her sores and then took some liquid from the sores of a patient with mild smallpox.
Jenner believed that if he could inject someone with cowpox, the germs from the cowpox would make the body able to defend itself against the dangerous smallpox germs which he would inject later.
Jenner approached a local farmer called Phipps and asked him if he could inoculate his son James against smallpox. He explained to the farmer that if his theory was correct, James would never contract smallpox. Surprisingly, the farmer agreed.
Jenner made two small cuts on James's left arm. He then poured the liquid from Sarah's cowpox sores into the open wounds which he bandaged.
James went down with cowpox but was not very ill. Six weeks later when James had recovered, Jenner vaccinated him again, this time with the smallpox virus.
This was an extremely dangerous experiment. If James lived Jenner would have found a way of preventing smallpox. If James developed smallpox and died he would be a murderer.
To Jenner's relief James did not catch smallpox. His experiment had worked.
In 1798 after carrying out further successful tests, he published his findings: An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae, a Disease Known by the Name of Cow Pox. Jenner called his idea " vaccination" from the word vaccinia which is latin for cowpox. Jenner also introduced the term virus.
Jenner found a great deal of scepticism to his ideas and was subject to much ridicule. A cartoon was drawn, showing cows coming out of various parts of people's bodies after they had been vaccinated with cowpox.

'However, Jenner persevered and eventually, doctors found that vaccination did work and by 1800 most were using it. Jenner was awarded £30 000 by Parliament to enable him to continue carrying out his tests. Deaths from smallpox plummeted and vaccination spread through Europe and North America.
Jenner died in Berkeley on January 26, 1823 aged 74.

English Parts of Speech

There are thousands of words in any language. But not all words have the same job. For example, some words express "action". Other words express a "thing". Other words "join" one word to another word. These are the "building blocks" of the language. Think of them like the parts of a house. When we want to build a house, we use concrete to make the foundations or base. We use bricks to make the walls. We use window frames to make the windows, and door frames to make the doorways. And we use cement to join them all together. Each part of the house has its own job. And when we want to build a sentence, we use the different types of word. Each type of word has its own job.
We can categorize English words into 8 basic types or classes. These classes are called "parts of speech".
It's quite important to recognize parts of speech. This helps you to analyze sentences and understand them. It also helps you to construct good sentences.
In this lesson, we have an overview of the eight parts of speech, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

The Milk Maid

One night, Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) as usual went in disguise with his companion Ibn Abbas to see the condition of the people. They strolled from one quarter to another. At last they came to a colony where poor people lived. While passing by a small house, the Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) heard a whispering talk within. The mother was telling her daughter that the amount of milk fetched by her for sale that day was very little. She told her that when she was young, and used to sell milk, she always mixed water with milk, and that led to considerable profit. She advised her daughter to do the same. The girl said, "You adulterated milk, when you were not a Muslim. Now that we are Muslims, we cannot adulterate milk." The mother said that Islam did not stand in the way of adulteration of milk.The daughter said, "Have you forgotten the Caliph's order? He wants that the milk should not be adulterated." The mother said, "But the Caliph has forgotten us. We are so poor, what else should we do but adulterate milk in order win bread?" The daughter said "Such a bread would not be lawful, and as a Muslim I would not do anything which is against the orders of the Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) , and whereby other Muslims are deceived." The mother said, "But there is neither the Caliph nor any of his officers here to see what we do. Daughter you are still a child. Go to bed now and tomorrow I will myself mix the milk with water for you." The girl refused to fall in with the plan of her mother. She said, "Caliph may or may not be here, but his order must be obeyed. My conscience is my Caliph. You may escape the notice of the Caliph and his officers, but how can we escape the notice of Allah and our own conscience." Thereupon the mother remained quiet. The lamp was extinguished and the mother and the daughter went to sleep. The next day, Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) sent a man to purchase milk from the girl. The milk was unadulterated. The girl kept her resolve. Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) turned to his companion and said, "The girl has kept her resolve in spite of the exhortation of her mother. She deserves a reward. What reward should I give her? She should be paid some money," said Ibn Abbas. Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) said, "Such a girl would become a great mother. Her integrity is not to be weighed with few coins; it is to be measured in the scale of national values. I shall offer her the highest award in my gift, and which shall also be in the highest interest of the nation." The Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) summoned the daughter and the mother to his court. The mother trembled as she stood before the mighty ruler. But the girl faced the Caliph boldly and with great equanimity.She was beautiful, and there was an impressive dignity about her. Then before the gathering, Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) related how he had overheard the mother and the daughter, and how in spite of the exhortations of the mother the daughter had kept her resolve. Someone suggested that the mother should be taken to task. The Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) said that ordinarily he would have punished the mother, but he had forgiven her for the sake of her daughter.Turning to the girl the great Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) said, "Islam needs daughters like you and as a Caliph of Islam it devolves on me to reward you by owning you as a daughter." The Caliph called his sons, and addressing them said, "Here is a gem of a girl who would make a great mother. I desire that one of you should take this girl as wife. I know of no better bride than this girl of sterling character. In matters of wedlock, it should be the character and not the stature in life that should count." Abdullah and Abdur Rahman the elder sons of the Caliph (radiAllahu anhu) were already married. Asim the third son was yet unmarried, and he offered to marry the girl. Thereupon with the consent of the milkmaid and her mother Asim was married to the girl, and milkmaid became the daughter-in-law of the Caliph(radiAllahu anhu) . From this union was born a daughter Umm Asim, who became in due course the mother of Umar bin Abdul Aziz. Umar bin AbdulAziz was elected as Caliph and served for a short period during 717 - 720.While other Caliphs of the Ummayad dynasty reveled in luxury, Umar bin Abdul Aziz as a Caliph set up standards for austerity and simplicity following in the footsteps of Caliph Umar (radiAllahu anhu) , the second Caliph of Islam.It is said that if ever there was a noble Caliph after the first four Rightly guided Caliphs, such a man was Umar bin Abdul Aziz. And he inherited the noble qualities of the milkmaid who married the Caliph's son, and those of Caliph Umar Farooq who had the eye to discern the nobler qualities of sterling character in a poor girl.

A Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Faisal Ahmed left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Faisal Ahmed was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Ahmed requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words..... "Paid in full with one glass of milk" Signed, Dr. Faisal Ahmed Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

GEORGRAPHY- Deepest Ocean Points

Deepest Point in the World (and Pacific Ocean)Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench, Western Pacific Ocean: 35,840 feet / 10,924 meters
Deepest Point in the Atlantic OceanPuerto Rico Trench: 28,374 feet / 8648 meters
Deepest Point in the Arctic OceanEurasia Basin: 17,881 feet / 5450 meters
Deepest Point in the Indian OceanJava Trench: 23,376 feet / 7125 meters Deepest Point in the Southern OceanSouthern end of the South Sandwich Trench: 23,736 feet / 7235 meters

GEORGRAPHY- Lowest Points on Land

Lowest Point in the World (and Asia)Dead Sea shore, Israel-Jordan: 1369 feet / 417.5 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in AfricaLake Assal, Djibouti: 512 feet / 156 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in AustraliaLake Eyre: 52 feet / 12 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in EuropeCaspian Sea shore, Russia-Iran-Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan: 92 feet / 28 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in Western EuropeTie: Lemmefjord, Denmark and Prins Alexander Polder, Netherlands: 23 feet / 7 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in North AmericaDeath Valley, California: 282 feet / 86 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in South AmericaLaguna del Carbon (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz): 344 feet / 105 meters below sea level
Lowest Point in AntarcticaThe Bentley Subglacial Trench is approximately 2540 meters (8,333 feet) below sea level but is covered with ice; if Antarctica's ice were to melt, exposing the trench, it would be covered by sea so it is a quasi-lowest point and if one ignores the reality of the ice, it is the lowest point "on land" on the earth.

GEORGRAPHY- Highest Mountains in the World

Highest Mountain in the World (and Asia)Everest, Nepal-China: 29,035 feet / 8850 meters
Highest Mountain in AfricaKilimanjaro, Tanzania: 19,340 feet / 5895 meters
Highest Mountain in AntarcticaVinson Massif: 16,066 feet / 4897 meters
Highest Mountain in AustraliaKosciusko: 7310 feet / 2228 meters
Highest Mountain in EuropeElbrus, Russia (Caucasus): 18,510 feet / 5642 meters
Highest Mountain in Western EuropeMont Blanc, France-Italy: 15,771 feet / 4807 meters
Highest Mountain in OceaniaPuncak Jaya, New Guinea: 16,535 feet / 5040 meters
Highest Mountain in North AmericaMcKinley (Denali), Alaska: 20,320 feet / 6194 meters
Highest Mountain in the 48 Contiguous United StatesWhitney, California: 14,494 feet / 4418 meters
Highest Mountain in South AmericaAconcagua, Argentina: 22,834 feet / 6960 meter

Glossary of English Grammar Terms

Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject of the verb does the action (eg they killed the President). See also Passive Voice.

Adjective

A word like big, red, easy, French etc. An adjective describes a noun or pronoun

Adverb

A word like slowly, quietly, well, often etc. An adverb modifies a verb
Article

The "indefinite" articles are a and an. The "definite article" is the.

Auxiliary Verb

A verb that is used with a main verb. Be, do and have are auxiliary verbs. Can, may, must etc are modal auxiliary verbs.

Clause

A group of words containing a subject and its verb (for example: It was late when he arrived).

Conjunction

A word used to connect words, phrases and clauses (for example: and, but, if).

Infinitive

The basic form of a verb as in to work or work.

Interjection

An exclamation inserted into an utterance without grammatical connection (for example: oh!, ah!, ouch!, well!).

Modal Verb

An auxiliary verb like can, may, must etc that modifies the main verb and expresses possibility, probability etc. It is also called "modal auxiliary verb".

Noun

A word like table, dog, teacher, America etc. A noun is the name of an object, concept, person or place. A "concrete noun" is something you can see or touch like a person or car. An "abstract noun" is something that you cannot see or touch like a decision or happiness. A "countable noun" is something that you can count (for example: bottle, song, dollar). An "uncountable noun" is something that you cannot count (for example: water, music, money).

Object

In the active voice, a noun or its equivalent that receives the action of the verb. In the passive voice, a noun or its equivalent that does the action of the verb.

Participle

The -ing and -ed forms of verbs. The -ing form is called the "present participle". The -ed form is called the "past participle" (for irregular verbs, this is column 3).

Part Of Speech

One of the eight classes of word in English - noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction and interjection.

Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb (eg The President was killed). See also Active Voice

Phrase

A group of words not containing a subject and its verb (eg on the table, the girl in a red dress).

Predicate

Each sentence contains (or implies) two parts: a subject and a predicate. The predicate is what is said about the subject.

Preposition

A word like at, to, in, over etc. Prepositions usually come before a noun and give information about things like time, place and direction.

Pronoun

A word like I, me, you, he, him, it etc. A pronoun replaces a noun.

Sentence

A group of words that express a thought. A sentence conveys a statement, question, exclamation or command. A sentence contains or implies a subject and a predicate. In simple terms, a sentence must contain a verb and (usually) a subject. A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (.), question mark (?) or exclamation mark (!).

Subject

Every sentence contains (or implies) two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the main noun (or equivalent) in a sentence about which something is said.

Tense

The form of a verb that shows us when the action or state happens (past, present or future). Note that the name of a tense is not always a guide to when the action happens. The "present continuous tense", for example, can be used to talk about the present or the future.

Verb

A word like (to) work, (to) love, (to) begin. A verb describes an action or state.

ސ.އަތޮޅު މަދަރުސާގެ އިންޓަރހައުސް ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތުގެ ޗެމްޕިއަންކަން ސިކަންދަރީ ހައުސް ހޯދައިފި

2008 ޖުލައި 28 ން 31 ގެ ނިޔަލަށް ބޭއްވުނު އަތޮޅުމަދަރުސާގެ އިންޓަރ ހައުސް ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތުގެ ޗެމްޕިއަންކަން ސިކަންދަރީ ހައުސް ހޯދައިފިއެވެ. އެއީ މިމުބާރާތުގެ ފައިނަލް މެޗްގައި ޣާޒީ ހައުސް އާއި ބައްދަލުކޮށް 1- 0 ން މެޗް ކާމިޔާބުކޮށްގެންނެވެ. ފައިނަލް މެޗް ކުޅުން ނިމުމުން ޗެމްޕިއަން ޓީމަށާއި ރަނައަޕް ޓީމަށް އަދި ފެއަރޕްލޭ ޓީމަށް ހޮވުނު ހުރަވީ ހައުސްއަށް އިނާމް ބައްސަވައި ދެއްވީ ފައިނަލް މެޗްގެ ޝަރަފްވެރި މެހްމާނު އަތޮޅު މަދަރުސާގެ ސްޕަވައިޒަރ އަޝްރަފެވެ. މިމުބާރާތުގެ އެހެނިހެން މަގާމްތަކަށް ހޮވުނު ކުދީންނަށް އިނާމް ދިނުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވަނީ އަތޮޅު މަދަރުސާއަށް 25 އަހަރު ފުރުން ފާހަގަ ކުރުމަށް ބާއްވާ ހަފްލާގައިކަމަށް އަތޮޅު މަދަރުސާއިން މަޢުލޫމާތު ދެއްވައެވެ.

United Nations Secretaries-General

Secretary-General Nationality Dates in Office

Trygve Halvdan Lie Norwegian 1946–53

Dag Hammarskjöld Swedish 1953–61

U Thant Burmese 1962–71

Kurt Waldheim Austrian 1972–81

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar Peruvian 1982–91

Boutros Boutros-Ghali Egyptian 1992–96

Kofi Annan Ghanaian 1997–2006

Ban Ki-Moon South Korean 2007–

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-7

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru
PERUIn the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-6

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan
JORDANOn the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-5

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China
CHINAThe Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-4

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India
INDIAThis immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-3

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy
ITALYThis great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-2

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
BRAZILThis statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD-1

The New7Wonders organization is happy to announce that the following 7 candidates have been elected by more than 100 million votes to represent global heritage throughout history. The listing is in random order, as announced at the Declaration Ceremony on 07.07.07. All the New 7 Wonders are equal and are presented as a group without any ranking

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
MEXICO

Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

LEARN ENGLISH (1)

What is Grammar?
Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules*. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.
Do we need to study grammar to learn a language? The short answer is "no". Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word "grammar". But if you are serious about learning a foreign language, the long answer is "yes, grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently." It's important to think of grammar as something that can help you, like a friend. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
So think of grammar as something good, something positive, something that you can use to find your way - like a signpost or a map.