Imagine that you are taking a peaceful walk in the British countryside, when suddenly you hear the annoying sound of mobile phones going off all around you. Before you start looking for any loquacious human culprits, maybe you should look to the trees instead. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has found that British birds, such as starlings, are mimicking the noise of cell phone ringing tones. Mike Everett, a spokesman for the society, says that birds have long imitated manmade sounds from human whistling to car brakes screeching.

GLOSSARY:

starlings = estorninho (tipo de pássaro)

loquacious = falador, loquaz, tagarela

spokesman = porta-voz

culprit = situações perturbadoras

screeching = som de freada brusca

I just looked in the mirror, and I saw an overweight woman looking back at me. Who is she? Is that really me? I am sad to say I am one of the many Americans who does not do enough physical activity.

According to a report I have read, we should get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day to be healthy. It can help us live longer.

(Adapted from a text by Kiki Jones)

Dados:

Pressão atmosférica = 10⁵ N/m²

Densidade da água do mar = 1,03 g/cm³

Aceleração da gravidade no local = 10 m/s²