©AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
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 an osprey near water?
- Do you know any other fish that birds eat?
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。
- severe /suh-VEER/
[adjective] – causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; very serious.
The storm caused severe damage to the small town. - essential /uh-SEN-shuhl/
[adjective] – necessary or needed; a basic thing that you cannot live without
Water is essential for life on Earth. - oppose /uh-POHZ/
[verb] – to disagree with something, often by speaking or fighting against it
Many people oppose the plan to cut down trees. - expand /ik-SPAND/
[verb] – to increase or make something larger in scope, range, or amount
The government plans to expand travel restrictions to include more high-risk areas. - struggle /STRUHG-uhl/
[noun] – a very difficult task or problem
Farmers face a struggle between maintaining traditional methods and adapting to modern technology.
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。
Osprey, a bird once known as a sign of revival in the United States, is now facing a severe problem in reproduction in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. The species recovered after the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972, but new research from Bryan Watts of the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary showed that many pairs now raise fewer than 0.5 chicks each year. The main reason is the shortage of menhaden, a small fish that is essential for young birds. Without enough food, chicks starve, and scientists warned that the osprey population may no longer remain stable in the future.
Menhaden fishing is a business worth more than $200 million. The fish are used for oil, animal feed, and bait. Industry groups defended the practice, but environmental groups opposed the present system and called for stronger rules. Officials are now studying plans to expand quota limits and seasonal closures to protect the birds. The case highlights the struggle between business needs and nature’s survival.
Menhaden fishing is a business worth more than $200 million. The fish are used for oil, animal feed, and bait. Industry groups defended the practice, but environmental groups opposed the present system and called for stronger rules. Officials are now studying plans to expand quota limits and seasonal closures to protect the birds. The case highlights the struggle between business needs and nature’s survival.
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。
- Ospreys are facing a severe problem in reproduction in Chesapeake Bay.
- Ospreys fully recovered after DDT was banned in 2010.
- Menhaden is an essential food for young ospreys.
- Scientists said the osprey population is now completely safe and growing.
- Menhaden are used for oil, animal feed, and bait.
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。
| severe | essential | oppose | expand | struggle |
- Finding water in the desert is a ______ for animals.
- She felt ______ pain in her leg after the fall.
- Bread is an ______ in many people’s daily meals.
- Students ______ the new rule about wearing uniforms every day.
- The school will ______ its library hours.