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Reader's Bank_Level 6_Unit 10                                    Reading Text

Every country has its own way of having conversations. These different styles can be compared to sports. Japanese conversations are like bowling. Each person waits for their turn, just like a bowler. Even if there are long pauses, others rarely interrupt. American conversations are like basketball. If someone hesitates, another person might break in. It is like when basketball players steal the ball. Italian conversations are like rugby. Italians use lots of hand gestures, just like rugby players. They often interrupt each other, but they see this as a sign of interest, not as rudeness. Each culture has its own way of communicating. When you talk with foreign friends, watch how they “play ball”  and try to understand their styles and respect the differences.

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In August 1914, World War I began. The German army advanced toward France. By early September, the Germans were only 60 km away from Paris. The French army tried to stop the Germans at the Marne River. But the army faced a problem. They had no way to transport 6,000 soldiers to the battlefield. One general had an idea. The idea was to use all the taxis in Paris to move the soldiers. This plan could save the city. The army asked for help, and the taxi drivers agreed. On the day of the plan, nearly 600 taxis lined up.  General Gallieni, the military leader of Paris, came to meet the taxi drivers. He saluted them and sent them on their mission. The soldiers were quickly taken to the battlefield, where they successfully stopped the German attack. Without the taxi drivers, Paris might have fallen. Their bravery played a key role in the battle.

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Psychologists say that music is more than just fun. It can help your brain work better. MRI scans show that your brain becomes active when you do things. For example, reading, drawing, and solving math problems light up one part of your brain. But what happens when you listen to music? Many parts of your brain light up at the same time! That’s amazing. Playing an instrument is even more powerful, lighting up your whole brain like fireworks. Just like exercise makes your body strong, music helps make your brain active and strong. So why don’t you keep doing music-related activities on a daily basis? It can help you learn better and do well in school. It is also fun and good for your brain!