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Reader's Bank_Level 6_Unit 05                                    Reading Text

When someone sneezes, Americans often say, “Bless you.” This tradition comes from an old superstition. In the past, people thought that sneezing could bring bad luck. In Europe, people believed sneezing made the soul leave the body. This could let evil spirits in and make a person sick. To protect others from the evil spirit, people started saying “Bless you,” which shows that they cared about others. Even today, many people still say it out of habit. Many countries have similar expressions. Germans say, “Gesundheit” meaning “good health.” They think sneezing is a sign of illness. The French and the Spanish do the same. The French say, “Santé,” and the Spanish say, “Salud,” both of which mean “good health.” Their languages are different, but they all wish good health to those who sneeze.

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Buckminster Fuller was a clever thinker and inventor from the United States. He talked about something called the “trim-tab effect.” A trim tab is a small piece at the back of a big ship. Even though it is tiny, it helps the ship turn. How does it work? First, the trim tab moves. This helps the bigger part, called the rudder, to turn. Then, the whole ship can go in a new direction. Fuller believed this idea could be used in life. Big systems, like schools, companies, or even the world, can be hard to change. But sometimes, small actions can work. You don’t need to be famous or powerful to make a difference. A kind word, a new idea, or speaking up for what’s right could be the trim tab in your community.

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Long ago, many people in Africa lived peacefully together. They had lots of land with precious resources, which were shared among people. But in the 1800s, some people from Europe came to Africa. This changed everything. The Europeans wanted more land, but they didn’t want to fight each other. So, they decided to divide Africa. Usually, rivers or mountains form the borders of countries. But the Europeans simply drew straight lines on a map to make new borders in Africa without caring about geographical characteristics. This was tragic for Africa. People who spoke different languages and had different ways of life had to live together. This made it hard for them to get along. So, when you hear stories about problems in Africa, remember how they all began.