
©(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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 you enjoy looking at holiday decorations?
- Do you prefer handmade items over machine-made items?
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。
- gain /geyn/
[verb] – to receive or get something, usually gradually
The new singer quickly gained fans after releasing a popular song. - offer /OF-er/
[verb] – to give someone the chance to accept something
The company offered a new training program to help employees learn more skills. - design /dih-ZAHYN/
[noun] – a plan or drawing that shows how something will look
The art class displayed different designs for the school’s new logo. - expensive /ik-SPEN-siv/
[adjective] – costing a lot of money
The museum kept an expensive painting in a secure room. - hope /hohp/
[noun] – a feeling that something good will happen
The team felt strong hope before the final match.
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 holiday project in Antwerp, Belgium, gained attention in 2025 as collector Christel Dauwe continued to expand a large ornament collection. The collection has more than 64,000 ornaments in private storage and about 18,000 pieces in a small shop. Dauwe began collecting during teenage years, and the shop changed from selling antiques to selling ornaments 35 years ago. A major moment happened during a trip to Poland, where a factory offered to make special designs but required an order of 200 pieces for each shape. This rule helped shape the early plans for the shop and showed strong interest in handmade decorations.The shop grew with help from the Polish factory and 32 more European producers. This support increased the number of designs and helped the business remain stable. Dauwe said that many customers looked for ornaments that showed personal experiences, such as a pet, a car, or an important event. The collection also included expensive items, such as an ornament of Alexander the Great that cost more than 500 euros. Each ornament was dusted twice a year. Dauwe explained that holiday traditions brought feelings of nostalgia and hope, and this idea guided the shop.
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 collection has fewer than 10,000 ornaments in private storage.
- Only five ornaments were displayed in the small shop.
- The shop has always sold ornaments since it first opened.
- In Poland, the factory required an order of 200 pieces for each design.
- Customers often wanted ornaments that showed personal experiences.
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。
| gained | offered | designs | expensive | hope |
- The hotel ______ free breakfast to all guests during the holiday week.
- The school ______ attention when it opened a new science building.
- The doctor’s message gave the family ______ during a difficult time.
- She bought an ______ necklace as a gift for her mother.
- The fashion show presented many colorful ______ made by young creators.