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。
- Do all birds have the ability to fly?
- Do you think birds play an important role in maintaining the environment?
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。
- sailor /SEY-ler/
- hunting /HUHN-ting/
- recent /REE-suhnt/
- declare /dih-KLAIR/
- unfortunately /uhn-FAWR-chuh-nit-lee/
[noun] – a person whose job is to work on a ship or boat
The sailors were excited to reach the next port after months at sea.
[noun] – chasing and killing an animal or bird for food, sport, or profit
Many people in rural areas rely on hunting to provide food for their families.
[adjective] – happening or starting from a short time ago
She just received a recent promotion at her job.
[verb] – to announce something publicly or formally
The country declared its independence after years of struggle.
[adverb] – used to express regret or disappointment about something
Unfortunately, the event was canceled due to bad weather.
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 Dodo, a famous flightless bird from Mauritius, went extinct due to human activities after Dutch sailors found it in 1598. In less than 80 years, hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of new species led to its disappearance. Sadly, this is not an isolated case. A recent study reveals that 610 bird species have gone extinct over the past 130,000 years, closely linked to human expansion. For example, the Hawaiian songbird Kauaʻi ʻōʻō (pronounced Kah-wah-‘ee ‘Oh-‘Oh) was declared extinct last year. The loss of bird species harms ecosystems because birds help by spreading seeds, controlling insects, and pollinating plants. According to ecologist Tom Matthews from the University of Birmingham, many fruit-eating birds are now extinct on islands like Mauritius and Hawaii. This has reduced tree species that depend on birds for seed dispersal. Invasive animals, such as rats and cats, have also contributed to bird extinction, especially on islands where birds had no natural predators. Unfortunately, over 1,000 bird species could become extinct in the next 200 years due to human actions.
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。
- The Dodo went extinct because of human activities after it was discovered in 1598.
- It took more than 100 years for the Dodo to become extinct after it was discovered.
- Over the past 130,000 years, 610 bird species have gone extinct due to human expansion.
- The extinction of birds has had no effect on tree species that rely on seed dispersal.
- Birds play an important role in ecosystems by spreading seeds, controlling insects, and pollinating plants.
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。
| sailor | hunting | recent | declared | unfortunately |
- The government has strict regulations on __________ to preserve wildlife populations.
- __________, the restaurant was closed when we arrived for dinner.
- The judge __________ the man guilty after reviewing the evidence.
- The __________ changes in weather have surprised many people.
- My grandfather was a __________ who traveled the world during his career.