Author Archive: admin

Pittsburgh International Airport tests UV robot cleaners to fight COVID-19

UV robots

© Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport Pre-reading questions: Do you like robots? Have you ever seen a robot? Vocabulary: airport /AIR-pawrt/ [noun] a place where aircraft regularly take off and land, with buildings for passengers to wait in A female foreigner from Japan is waiting for her brother at the airport. machine /muh-SHEEN/ [noun] a piece of equipment with several moving parts that uses power to do a particular type of work The machines are working perfectly fine. replace /ri-PLEYS/ [verb] to change something that is old, damaged, lost, etc. for something newer or better It’s now time to replace the old books with new ones. disinfection /dis-in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] the process…
Read more

An antigen to rapidly detect the novel coronavirus ready to use in Japan

antigen

Vocabulary: detect /dih-TEKT/ [verb] – to notice something that is partly hidden or not clear, or to discover something, especially using a special method The police prevent and detect crimes. undergo /uhn-der-GOH/ [verb] – to experience something that involves a change The city has undergone many changes during the last ten years. consultation /kon-suhl-TEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the process of discussing something with someone in order to get their advice or opinion about it The prime minister will hold a consultation with all the relevant groups. cluster /KLUHS-ter/ [noun] – a group of similar things growing or held together, or a group of people or things that are close together The…
Read more

An antigen to rapidly detect the novel coronavirus ready to use in Japan

antigen

Pre-reading questions: Are you comfortable working/studying at home? Please explain your answer. What do you miss about the normal days? Vocabulary: instantly /IN-stuhnt-lee/ [adverb] – immediately The email was instantly sent after she received the report. conference /KON-fer-uhns/ [noun] – a private and formal meeting between a small number of people She called a conference to give a special announcement. reaction /ree-AK-shuhn/ [noun] – an occasion when two or more substances react with and change each other The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus Rosa is…
Read more

An antigen to rapidly detect the novel coronavirus ready to use in Japan

antigen

Pre-reading questions: Do you follow social-distancing? Do you follow the news around the world on social media? Vocabulary: last /lahst/ [adjective] – the most recent or the one before the present one I joined the summer camp last March 16. national /NASH-uhnl/ [adjective] – relating to all parts of a nation or to a nation as a whole rather than to any part of it The national health service hotline is not working. program /PROH-gram/ [noun] – a plan of activities to be done or things to be achieved The E2E program would generate a lot of new jobs. often /AW-fuhn/ [adverb] – a lot or many times The doctor…
Read more

Endangered African black rhinos gradually increase in number

rhino

Vocabulary: director general /dih-REK-ter JEN-er-uhl/ [noun] – the person who is in charge of a big organization Inger Andersen was appointed Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in January 2015. extinction /ik-STINGK-shuhn/ [noun] – a situation in which something no longer exists The extinction of the dinosaurs happened millions of years ago. subspecies /SUHB-spee-sheez/ [noun] – a particular type within a species, the members of which are different in some clear ways from those of other types of the species Three out of eight subspecies of tiger – the Bali, Caspian, and Javan tigers are declared extinct. countermeasure /KOUN-ter-mezh-er / [noun] – an action taken…
Read more

Endangered African black rhinos gradually increase in number

rhino

Pre-reading questions: Do you like animals? What is your favorite animal? Vocabulary: still /stil/ [adverb] – continuing to happen or continuing to be done I’m still writing my report. southwestern /south-WEST-tern/ [adjective] – in or from the southwest They have been to the southwestern side of the country. grow /groh/ [verb] – to increase in size or amount The population in this area grows quickly. danger /DEYN-jer/ [noun] – the possibility of harm or death You must know the dangers of smoking. improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] – to get better, or to make something better Melinda eats healthy foods to improve her health. A report from the International Union for Conservation…
Read more

Endangered African black rhinos gradually increase in number

rhino

Pre-reading questions: What endangered animals do you know? How can people save animals from extinction? Vocabulary: population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn/ [noun] – all the people or animals of a particular type or group who live in one country, area, or place The population in Metro Manila has increased rapidly in the last 20 years. endangered /en-DEYN-jerd/ [adjective] – animals or plants that may soon not exist because there are very few now alive Conservationists attempt to save endangered animal species. conservation /kon-ser-VEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings Wildlife conservation is important to prevent species from going extinct. decline /dih-KLAYHN/ [noun]…
Read more

Is the two-meter rule enough for social distancing?

2 meter

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you wear face masks? Do you think scientists will find a cure for the coronavirus? Vocabulary: distance /DIS-tuhns/ [noun] – the amount of space between two places or things The distance from earth to the sun is about 150 million kilometers. another /uh-NUTH-er/ [determiner] – one more person or thing, or an extra amount I’m going to get another piece of paper. spend /spend/ [verb] – to use time doing something or being somewhere I spend two hours a day learning Spanish. possible /POS-uh-buhl/ [adjective] – that might or might not happen If possible, please email us before 12 o’clock. object /OB-jekt/ [noun] – a thing that…
Read more