Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- soar /sawr/
- exceed /IK-seed/
- weary /WEER-ee/
- surge /surj/
- foresee /fawr-SEE/
[adjective] – rising very quickly to a high level
The soaring price of goods is a serious problem to the people in the community.
[verb] – to be greater than a number or amount, or to go past an allowed limit
Drivers who exceed the speed limit would be penalized.
[adjective] – very tired, especially after working hard for a long time
I think he’s weary after his travel from South Korea to California.
[verb] – to increase suddenly and strongly
The company’s profits surged due to the products that were released last month.
[verb] – to know about something before it happen
I don’t foresee any conflicts so long as we do this process.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The number of people traveling to celebrate Thanksgiving soared as new coronavirus cases reached 200,000 a day in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave supervision last November 19, 2020, advising Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving. However, many people still planned to travel over the holiday week. On November 20, 2020, the number of travelers screened at US airport security checkpoints exceeded 1 million for only the second time after March; The Transportation Security Administration said that’s still just 40% of the number screened on the Friday before Thanksgiving last year.
Many weary Americans desired to spend their time with their family and friends for Thanksgiving. However, they had faced another dangerous calculation as they considered dismissing travel plans at the last minute or going ahead as COVID-19 cases surged. Gail Duilio, an ex-public health nurse in Portland, Oregon, had considered not traveling to Minnesota for the holiday and her mother’s 93rd birthday. She said that, when she was making the arrangements a few weeks ago, she felt the danger vs. benefits weighed on the side of going. Travel organization AAA has announced that it foresees at least a 10% reduction in travel this Thanksgiving because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases.
Many weary Americans desired to spend their time with their family and friends for Thanksgiving. However, they had faced another dangerous calculation as they considered dismissing travel plans at the last minute or going ahead as COVID-19 cases surged. Gail Duilio, an ex-public health nurse in Portland, Oregon, had considered not traveling to Minnesota for the holiday and her mother’s 93rd birthday. She said that, when she was making the arrangements a few weeks ago, she felt the danger vs. benefits weighed on the side of going. Travel organization AAA has announced that it foresees at least a 10% reduction in travel this Thanksgiving because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
- All Americans chose to stay home than traveling over the holiday week.
- The number of travelers screened at US airport security checkpoints exceeded 1 million for only the second time after March.
- Gail Duilio, an ex-public health nurse in Portland, Oregon, has considered not traveling to New York for the holiday.
- Many weary Americans are desiring to spend their time with their family and friends for Thanksgiving.
- Some Americans face another dangerous calculation as they consider dismissing travel plans at the last minute or going ahead as COVID-19 cases surge.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Do you think Gail Duilio had a tough time thinking about cancelling her travel over the holiday week?
- Why do you think many Americans still want to travel in these times?
- If you were American, would still travel to celebrate Thanksgiving?
- Do you think it is good to travel to other places these times? Why or why not?
- When was the last time you traveled? Tell me about it.
Express Your Opinion:
I will read each sentence. Then, please tell me if you agree or disagree, and why.
- “Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
- “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.” -Mohamed
- “The journey not the arrival matters.” -T.S.Eliot