Becoming an independent learner in English is achievable with (7) strategies. Firstly, establish clear and manageable goals for yourself, like learning a few new words every day or practicing speaking for a short time each day. Then, explore the diverse range of resources available, such as language learning apps, online courses, or English books (8) are designed for your proficiency level. Don't let fear of making mistakes hold you back; errors are natural and part of the learning process. Instead, focus on your progress and celebrate your successes along the way. Consistency is key, so try to establish a regular study routine that works for you. (9) , don't hesitate to seek support from English-speaking communities or language exchange partners to practice your skills in real-life situations. By (10) control of your learning journey and using various resources, you can develop your English proficiency independently and with confidence. Keep practicing, stay motivated, and remember that every small step forward counts toward your (11) goal of fluency.
(Adapted from https://www.cambridge.org)

Environmentalists are getting more worried about the effects of fast fashion on the environment. Fast fashion is the mass production of clothes at a low cost. They are put in shops and online quickly to create a high demand. Manufacturers make 100 billion items of clothing every year. This is expected to grow by 60 percent by 2030. The fast fashion business model is having a negative effect on the environment. Many of the clothes end up in landfills and are not recycled. Another negative effect on the environment is caused by the chemicals used to make the clothes. These cause health problems for people working in clothes factories.
The way people are buying clothes is adding to the problem of clothing waste. Many years ago, people went to stores and tried clothes on. People took more time and thought more carefully before they bought clothes. They also wore them for longer. Today, people order cheap clothes on the Internet and if they don't like them, they send them back. Some people say this is causing a throwaway society. Some people buy clothes and never even wear them. The German media company Deutsche Welle wrote: "Every year in Europe, four million tons of clothing ends up in the trash. Less than one percent of this is recycled." It seems the fashion industry is not so sustainable.
(Adapted from https://breakingnewsenglish.com)

The death of a child from extreme heat highlighted the risk of climate-related illnesses across Malaysia. The same week, Vietnam declared a state of emergency after unusually high temperatures in the south dried up entire rice fields. And in the Philippines, hundreds of schools canceled classes after daily temperatures soared past 42 degrees Celsius. Extreme heat is back in Southeast Asia, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. And it is not going away any time soon, scientists have warned.
Home to more than 675 million people across 11 countries, the region has seen temperatures reach never-before-seen levels– with hardly any break from terrible heat and humidity, climatologist Maximiliano Herrera told CNN. Thailand has been the worst hit, Herrera said, adding that heat forecasts there have been especially severe. Temperatures across the country had been “breaking non-stop records” for 13 months – and heat and humidity levels were relentless, he said. “We thought temperatures last year were unbearable but (what we are seeing) this year has beaten that – temperatures in Bangkok won’t drop below 30 degrees Celsius, even at night for the rest of April,” Herrera told CNN. “The trend is inescapable. The region has to prepare for terrible heat for the rest of April and most of May.”
In nearby Vietnam, the heat wave brought intense droughts to the south – driving temperatures up to nearly 40 degrees Celsius and wreaking havoc on the country’s vital agriculture industry. Vietnam is one of the world’s largest rice exporters and low rainfall means trouble for farmers in its Mekong delta region. Rice fields and rivers have dried up, according to Vietnamese media reports, and farmers have been struggling without rainwater for their crops. Record heatwaves in 2023 caused severe power failures in several cities. This year, Vietnamese meteorologists have attributed the abnormally long dry period to El Niño, a natural climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and influences weather all over the world. Alongside these natural changes, the world continues to break climate records, with deadly heat waves becoming the norm.
(Adapted from https://edition.cnn.com)