Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Can you renew government IDs online?
- Is specific information required to renew a government ID online?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- citizen /SIT-uh-zuhn/
- expire /ik-SPAHYUHR/
- processing /PROS-es-ing/
- streamline /STREEM-lahyn/
- staff /staf/
[noun] – a person who lives in a particular place and has the rights and protection of that place
Every citizen must follow the country’s laws.
[verb] – to come to an end; to finish
The milk will expire next week.
[noun] – the action of doing something in a series of steps
The processing of the food takes a long time.
[verb] – to make something more efficient or simpler
We need to streamline our daily tasks.
[noun] – the group of people who work for an organization
The staff at the school are very helpful.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
The U.S. State Department announced that American citizens can now renew their passports online, making the process faster and more efficient. This new system, launched on September 18, 2024, is available for adults whose passports have expired within the last five years or will expire in the next 12 months. However, it excludes first-time applicants, children’s passports, those living abroad, and people needing quick processing. The department’s goal is to streamline the renewal process, which used to involve mailing forms and waiting long periods. By switching to a digital platform, the department expects to process 5 million renewals each year. This move follows efforts to improve efficiency after pandemic-related delays. Technological improvements and additional staff have already reduced wait times by one-third. Applicants can now submit their documents and payments online, simplifying the entire procedure. Future plans include expanding the online service to more groups, including children and those outside the U.S.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- American citizens can renew their passports online.
- The new system is only for first-time applicants.
- Passports that expired in the last five years can be renewed.
- Applicants must mail their forms to renew passports.
- The U.S. State Department aims to improve efficiency.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
citizen | expire | processing | streamline | staff |
- Our ______ meets every Monday to discuss plans.
- ______ your order will take three days.
- A ______ can vote in local elections.
- My library card will ______ soon.
- The new plan will ______ the work process.