©Photo by Elizabeth Peters: https://www.bbg.org/article/a_rare_corpse_flower_blooms
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 seen a rare flower bloom in real life?
- Do you know any flowers that have a strong or unusual smell?
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。
- rare /rair/
- bloom /bloom/
- native /NEY-tiv/
- similar /SIM-uh-ler/
- researcher /REE-sr-chr/
[adjective] – unusual and not happening often
She found a rare coin in the garden.
[verb] – to produce flowers, or (of a flower) to open or be open
The roses will bloom in spring.
[adjective] – from a specific place originally
This bird is native to Japan.
[adjective] – almost the same as something else
These shirts are similar in color.
[noun] – a person who studies something carefully to learn more
The researcher studies wild animals.
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。
A rare Amorphophallus gigas flower bloomed at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the first time since its arrival in 2018, attracting many visitors eager to witness the event. The plant, related to the Amorphophallus titanum, or corpse flower, is native to Sumatra and emits a strong odor similar to decomposing flesh. The bloom, made up of hundreds of male and female flowers inside a large structure, began showing signs of flowering around New Year’s Eve. The process is highly sporadic, often taking years to repeat.
A similar event happened at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia, where an Amorphophallus titanum blossomed for the first time in 15 years. The plant grew from 25 centimeters in December to 1.6 meters by late January, releasing an odor compared to decaying organic matter. The Amorphophallus gigas uses thermogenesis, producing heat to intensify its odor and attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies. This rare event provides researchers with insights into the reproductive cycle of endangered plants but complicates conservation efforts due to its unpredictability.
A similar event happened at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia, where an Amorphophallus titanum blossomed for the first time in 15 years. The plant grew from 25 centimeters in December to 1.6 meters by late January, releasing an odor compared to decaying organic matter. The Amorphophallus gigas uses thermogenesis, producing heat to intensify its odor and attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies. This rare event provides researchers with insights into the reproductive cycle of endangered plants but complicates conservation efforts due to its unpredictability.
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 Amorphophallus gigas flower bloomed in 2023 at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
- The Amorphophallus gigas is native to Sumatra.
- The flower emits a pleasant, sweet smell.
- The bloom happened in Sydney, Australia, at the Royal Botanic Garden.
- The plant grew from 25 cm to 1.6 meters in two months.
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。
| rare | bloom | native | similar | researcher |
- The two houses look ______ outside.
- It is ______ to see snow in April.
- The plant started to ______ last week.
- The panda is ______ to China and lives mostly in bamboo forests.
- A ______ found a new plant today.