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。
- Have you ever visited a science museum or planetarium?
- Would you feel excited if scientists found life outside Earth?
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。
- sample /SAM-puhl/
[noun] – a small part of something that shows what the whole is like
The scientist studied a rock sample from the mountain to learn about its minerals. - possibility /pos-uh-BIL-i-tee/
[noun] – something that may happen or may be true
There is a possibility of rain tomorrow afternoon. - speed /speed/
[noun] – how fast something moves
The car reached a speed of 120 kilometers per hour on the highway. - vent /vent/
[noun] – an opening that lets air, gas, liquid, or steam go in or out
Smoke rose from the vents of the volcano. - seafloor /SEE-flawr/
[noun] – the bottom of the sea or ocean
Strange fish were discovered living near the seafloor.
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。
Scientists said on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that new organic molecules were found on Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The discovery came from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which passed close to the moon in 2008. Enceladus is a small moon, about 500 kilometers wide. It is famous for water plumes that rise from its south pole. These plumes come from an ocean under the ice, making the moon an important place in the search for life outside Earth. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, showed that the organic grains were younger than old grains seen in Saturn’s rings. Younger grains gave scientists a clearer sample to study. Experts said the chemicals increased the possibility of habitability, but no life has been found.The study showed that fresh ice grains hit Cassini’s dust analyzer at high speed, about 65,000 kilometers per hour. These grains contained known organics and new ones. The evidence suggested that the chemicals came from the underground ocean and may be linked to hot vents on the seafloor. On Earth, such vents support sea life. Scientists explained that a place can be habitable without having life. Future missions to Enceladus are being planned, while NASA will also send the Europa Clipper to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa in 2030.
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 discovery came from NASA’s Voyager spacecraft in 1998.
- Enceladus is a small moon, about 500 kilometers wide.
- The water plumes of Enceladus rise from its north pole.
- The plumes are linked to an underground ocean beneath the ice.
- Fresh ice grains gave scientists a clearer sample to study.
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。
| sample | possibility | speed | vent | seafloor |
- Scientists used a submarine to study plants on the ______.
- Hot air came out of the ______ in the wall.
- The team discussed the ______ of moving the meeting to Friday.
- The scientist studied a soil ______ from the desert to check for water.
- The runner increased his ______ near the finish line.