01

Reader's Bank_Level 5_Unit 01                                      Reading Text

Paris had a big problem. Many people crossed the street when the light was red. This caused many accidents. To solve the problem, the Paris Road Safety team tried something new called “The Virtual Crash Billboard.” These billboards are on busy streets. They have cameras and speakers. If someone crosses at a red light, a loud sound plays — Screech! It sounds like a car stopping fast, which surprises people. Many of them stop right away. At that moment, a camera takes a picture of their face. The photo is shown on the billboard with a message: “Don’t risk your life. Wait for the green light and cross safely.” People can also scan a code to see crash stories. It helps them learn to cross the street more safely. Now, Paris streets are safer because of the billboard idea.

02

People sometimes use animals to describe a person’s personality. But they don’t always use the same animal for the same idea. For example, in Korea, people say a stubborn person is like a cow. In English-speaking countries, they say a mule. In Germany, they use a donkey. Forgetful people are also compared to animals. In Spain, people say, “to have the memory of a fish.” In the US, they say, “to have a bird’s brain.” Now, let’s think of still another example. Some people act kind but are not really kind inside. In Japan, people say, “to wear a cat on one’s head.” In Western countries, they say, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” These sayings show how each culture sees animals differently. Next time you hear a new saying, check what animal it uses. It can be fun!

03

Romeo and Juliet’s love story is very sad. In the story, they chose to die because they couldn’t be together. But did you know that Romeo and Juliet knew each other for only five days? Can you really fall in love with someone so quickly? A psychologist has an idea about why they fell in love so soon. The  idea is that Romeo and Juliet liked each other more because they had many problems. Their parents did not like their love and tried to stop them, which made Romeo and Juliet want each other even more. This feeling is not just about love, but it also applies to shopping. People want something more when they think it might go away. Many sellers use this idea from Romeo and Juliet. They say, “Only three days left! Buy before it’s gone!” Buyers worry about not getting what they want, so they buy right away. This is called the Romeo and Juliet effect. So, next time you see a “3-day-only sale,” ask yourself: Do I really need it?