Pre-reading questions:
- Do you like watching “asadora” (morning dramas)?
- Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Vocabulary:
- difficult /DIF-i-kuhl/
- base /beys/
- inventor /in-VEN-ter/
- challenging /CHAL-in-jing/
- heroine /HER-oh-in /
[adjective] not easy to deal with
The teacher helped her students in answering a difficult question.
[verb] to use a story or painting on something
The movie is based on the popular romance novel.
[noun] a person who makes a new system or machine
A young inventor developed television in 1920.
[adjective] difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination
Playing volleyball is challenging but fun.
[noun] the main female character in a story
Fukuko Imai is the heroine of “Manpuku”.
Sakura Ando is chosen to star in the NHK’s 99th asadora (morning drama). The asadora “Manpuku” is a story about Manpei (played by Hiroki Hasegawa) and his wife (Ando) who are having a difficult time with their family business before and after World War II. “Manpuku” is based on the story of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles and his wife. This role is challenging for Ando as she is the first mother to be a heroine in an asadora.
True or False:
- “Manpuku” is the 99th asadora of NHK.
- Sakura Ando will play as a heroine in “Manpuku”.
- “Manpuku” is a story about a couple who lives abroad.
- Momofuku Ando is the inventor of instant oatmeal.
- Hiroki Hasegawa will play as Manpei.
Vocabulary Check:
Complete the sentences by using the words in the box.
| difficult | base | inventor | challenging | heroine |
- The _________ of this romance story is a high school girl.
- I’m planning to study more _________ English words this year.
- Alexander Graham Bell is the _________ of the telephone.
- The novel is _________ on the author’s life as a banker.
- I think studying English and Math is _________.