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Reader's Bank_Level 8_Unit 11                                    Reading Text

A halo is a circle of light that appears around the sun or moon. It happens when ice particles in the air reflect light. This ring of light affects how we see the sun or moon. In psychology, there’s a similar idea called the halo effect. It means we often judge people based on our first impression. If someone looks nice or confident, we might think they are also smart, kind, or good at their job even if we don’t know them well. This often happens during part-time job interviews. For example, if an applicant shows up with a bright smile and speaks clearly, the manager might think, “She must be great with customers.” Even if she has no work experience, she might still get the job. But the opposite can also happen. This is called the horn effect (or the “devil effect”). If someone looks nervous or has messy hair, the manager might wrongly believe, “He’s not reliable.” Just one small thing can lead to a bad impression, and they might not get the job.

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In 2024, a 10,000-meter runner from Kenya was banned for six years for engaging in blood doping. Blood doping is a method through which athletes get extra blood injected into their bodies to improve their stamina. Blood carries oxygen through the body, so more blood means more oxygen reaches the muscles. This lets athletes perform harder and longer, giving them an unfair advantage. The blood can come from the same person or someone else.

When the blood comes from the same person, about a liter is taken out for a few weeks before a competition. The athlete’s body has time to make more blood. The removed blood is frozen to protect the red blood cells. Later, just before the event, the frozen blood is thawed and put back into the body to improve performance.

But there is no such thing as a free lunch. Blood doping breaks the rules of medicine and sports. It also makes the blood thicker, which forces the heart to work harder. This can lead to a heart attack or kidney damage. Because of these risks, blood doping is banned in all major international sports competitions.

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On April 19, 2024, a strong earthquake hit Myanmar. It caused a lot of damage, and many people got hurt. Just two days later, powerful earthquakes struck Indonesia and Tonga in the South Pacific. Even though these places are far apart, they might be connected. How can this happen? They are all part of the “Ring of Fire,” which is the most active earthquake zone in the world. The Ring of Fire stretches about 40,000 kilometers around the Pacific Ocean in a horseshoe shape. It includes countries like Japan, Peru, and the United States. Around 75% of the world’s active volcanoes and 90% of its earthquakes happen there. The Ring of Fire began forming about 250 million years ago, when the supercontinent Pangaea started to break apart. As the Pacific Plate sank beneath other plates, it created deep ocean valleys and volcanic arcs. The countries along the Ring of Fire are connected by moving tectonic plates, large pieces of rock beneath the Earth’s surface that fit together like a puzzle. When an earthquake hits one place, it can push the plates and cause earthquakes in faraway areas. This shows how an earthquake in one area can trigger other earthquakes along the same volcanic zone.