Monthly Archive: August 2018

UNRWA endures aid reduction

UNRWA endures aid reduction

Vocabulary: cut /kuht/ [noun] to lower the number or amount of something They announced that a salary cut of 10% will be implemented for the next month. shortfall /SHAWRT-fawl/ [noun] a failure to meet an expectation or need There was a shortfall in last week’s delivery, so they ran out of stock. voluntary /VOL-uhn-ter-ee/ [adjective] done or given by free will Participation in the activity is completely voluntary. restore /ri-STAWR/ [verb] to bring something back into existence Winning the first set helped restore the national volleyball team’s confidence. indigent /IN-di-juhnt/ [adjective] having no money or anything else of value; very poor The foundation was built to help indigent people. The…
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UNRWA endures aid reduction

UNRWA endures aid reduction

Pre-reading questions: What is your opinion on giving donations? Do you budget your money? Why or why not? Vocabulary: budget /BUHJ-it/ [noun] the amount of money a person or organization has available to spend My family is on a very tight budget after my father was sent to the hospital. contribution /kon-truh-BYOO-shuhn/ [noun] an amount of money that is given to help pay for something Mary gave a generous contribution to the animal shelter. annual /AN-yoo-uhl/ [adjective] measured over a period of one year They harvest the flowers annually. expense /ik-SPENSE/ [noun] the money that you spend on something It was a struggle to pay for my college expenses. penniless…
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Free education for British students in 11 countries

Free education for British students in 11 countries

Pre-reading questions: Do you want to go to England? Why or why not? What countries in Europe do you know? Vocabulary: Slovenia /sloh-VEE-nee-uh/ [noun] a country in southeastern Europe My family will visit Slovenia next month. cost /kost/ [verb] to pay an amount to buy or do something Joining the event will not cost you a lot. pound /pawnd/ [noun] unit of money used in the United Kingdom We don’t use pounds in the United States. yearly /YEER-lee/ [adjective] every year or once a year She visits the dentist yearly. expensive /ik-SPEN-siv/ [adjective] costing a lot of money I don’t want to buy that phone because it’s expensive. British students…
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Free education for British students in 11 countries

Free education for British students in 11 countries

Vocabulary: so long as /soh LONG az/ [idiom] similar to “if”; displays conditions I will attend the meeting so long as my schedule is not hectic. promising /PROM-uh-sing/ [adjective] likely to yearn good and successful results Decreasing public transportation vehicles is another promising measure to lessen traffic. expenditure /ik-SPEND-di-cher/ [noun] the total amount of money that a person, business, or group spends Unnecessary expenditures include those for luxury items. mandatory /MAN-duh-tawr-ee/ [adjective] required by law or rules The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment. domain /doh-MEYN/ [noun] an area or subject that someone owns or has control over The palace beyond the sea is also the mighty king’s domain….
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Free education for British students in 11 countries

Free education for British students in 11 countries

Pre-reading questions: What country or countries have you been to? If none, where would you like to go? Do you want to study abroad? Why or why not? Vocabulary: mere /meer/ [adjective] not more than nor better than The pair of pants I bought online costs a mere $30. require /ri-KWAHYUH-r/ [verb] to make something necessary or needed The students are required to submit their written report by Friday. annual /AN-yoo-uhl/ [adjective] happening once every year I never miss the annual sale at the department store near my house. opportunity /op-er-TOO-ni-tee/ [noun] a chance that makes something possible to happen His work provided him with a lot of opportunities to…
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Odd? It’s normal, at least for Sayaka Murata

Odd Its normal at least for Sayaka Murata

Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Vocabulary: oddball /OD-bawl/ [adjective] peculiar or strange Even Jim’s siblings don’t like him because they thought that he’s a bit of an oddball. atypical /ey-TIP-i-kuhl/ [adjective] not typical; different from most others of its type The play is very atypical compared to last year; that’s why many people find it interesting. puzzled /PUHZ-uhld/ [adjective] confused; having difficulty to understand The professor finds it challenging when the students are puzzled about the lesson. appealing /uh-PEEL-ing/ [adjective] interesting or attractive The mole on her nose is appealing to most guys in the campus. depict /dih-PIKT/ [verb] to represent or show something in a picture,…
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Odd? It’s normal, at least for Sayaka Murata

Odd Its normal at least for Sayaka Murata

Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like going to convenience stores? What can you say about people working in convenience stores? Vocabulary: novelist /NOV-uh-list/ [noun] a person who writes long stories Her dream is to become a novelist. translate /trans-LEYT/ [verb] to change writing or speech from one language into another Beth helped his brother translate his speech. curious /KYOOR-ee-uhs/ [adjective] interested in learning about people or things around you Lily is curious about his life. manual /MAN-yoo-uhl/ [noun] a book that gives instructions on how to do something or how to use something Robin gave his cooking manual to his brother. unique /yoo-NEEK/…
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Odd? It’s normal, at least for Sayaka Murata

Odd Its normal at least for Sayaka Murata

Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Pre-Reading Questions: How do you treat people who do odd things? Do you see yourself working in a convenience store? Vocabulary: eccentric /ik-SENT-trik/ [noun] someone who behaves in a weird way She’s an eccentric; that’s why she’s always been the center of attraction in the class. bizarre /bih-ZAHR/ [adjective] strange and unusual He was loved by his family and friends eventhough he’s bizarre. dead end /DED END/ [noun] a situation that has no hope of making progress Businessmen got stuck in a dead-end situation in their attempts to find a possible solution. engaging /en-GEY-jing/ [adjective] tending to please; attractive The advertisement is…
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