Author Archive: admin

Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony fascinates foreigners

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Pre-reading questions: What kind of tea do you enjoy drinking and why? What is your favorite Japanese festival and why? Vocabulary: custom /KUHS-tuhm/ [noun] a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time One of the Filipino customs is Media Noche where families, relatives, and friends gather for a lavish midnight feast. conduct /kuhn-DUHKT/ [verb] to organize and direct a particular activity The new television program will conduct an audition for their lead actor next month ceremony /SER-uh-moh-nee/ [noun] a set of acts, often traditional or religious, performed at a formal occasion The couple’s wedding ceremony will be held near the beach. arrangement /uh-REYNJ-muhnt/…
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NASA’s InSight mission records astonishing sounds on the red planet

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Pre-reading questions: What is the most interesting planet for you? Do you want to become an astronaut? Vocabulary: strange /streynj/ [adjective] unusual and unexpected, or difficult to understand She has a strange personality. possible /POS-uh-buhl/ [adjective] able to be done or achieved It’s possible that he will not come. sound /sound/ [noun] something that you can hear or that can be heard I could hear the sound of children playing outside my window. make /meyk/ [verb] to produce something, often using a particular substance or material Let’s make some cookies. open /OH-puhn/ [adjective] not closed or fastened Ken saw an open gate in the abandoned house. NASA’s InSight recorded strange…
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NASA’s InSight mission records astonishing sounds on the red planet

redplanet

Vocabulary: mission /MISH-uhn/ [noun] an important job, especially a military one, that someone is sent somewhere to do The secret agent had an important mission in which he would need to pretend to work for the enemy. profound /pruh-FOUND/ [adjective] felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way Mr. Garcia’s profound words of encouragement inspired John to attend college. illustration /il-uh-STREY-shuhn/ [noun] a picture in a book, magazine, etc. or the process of illustrating something The kite must be assembled as shown in the illustration. aspiration /as-puh-REY-shuhn/ [noun] something that you hope to achieve She was filled with aspirations to succeed in life. depict /dih-PIKT/ [verb] to represent…
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NASA’s InSight mission records astonishing sounds on the red planet

redplanet

Pre-reading questions: Do you know anything about Mars? Elaborate your answer. Do you consider it as the second Earth? Why or why not? Vocabulary: bizarre /bih-ZAHR/ [adjective] very strange and unusual Everyone stared at the student who wore a bizarre outfit to school. observe /uhb-ZURV/ [verb] to watch carefully the way something happens or the way someone does something Drivers must observe the traffic rules. intention /in-TEN-shuhn/ [noun] something that you want and plan to do Tom had no intention of helping Jessica. surface /SUR-fis/ [noun] the outer or top part or layer of something Three-fourths of the earth’s surface is water. landscape /LAND-skeyp/ [noun] a large area of countryside,…
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Four healthy lifestyles that could boost mental health

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Pre-Reading Questions: Do you eat fruits and vegetables? Do you use social media sites every day? Vocabulary: psychological /sahy-kuh-LOJ-i-kuhl/ [adjective] relating to the human mind and feelings The new game has a psychological effect on kids. lifestyle /LAHYF-stahyl/ [noun] someone’s way of living; the things that a person or particular group of people usually do My doctor advised me to change my lifestyle. quit /kwit/ [verb] to stop doing something or leave a job or a place She promised herself that she would quit smoking. detox /DEE-toks/ [noun] a period when you stop taking unhealthy or harmful foods, drinks, or drugs into your body for a period of time, in…
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Four healthy lifestyles that could boost mental health

mental

Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually do when you feel sad? Do you have a healthy lifestyle? Why or why not? Vocabulary: abstain /ab-STEYN/ [verb] to not do something, especially something enjoyable that you think might be bad He made a promise that starting next month, he will abstain from alcohol and smoking. keen /keen/ [adjective] very interested, eager, or wanting (to do) something very much She was keen to know the process of getting a national ID. severe /suh-VEER/ [adjective] causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; very serious I did not go to work yesterday due to a severe headache. distress /dih-STRES/ [noun] a feeling of extreme…
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Four healthy lifestyles that could boost mental health

mental

Vocabulary: well-being /WEL-BEE-ing/ [noun] the state of feeling healthy and happy Seeing my friends happy and satisfied with what they have achieved gives me a sense of well-being. consequential /kon-si-KWEN-shuhl/ [adjective] significant, important When she became a manager, there are a lot of consequential changes that happen in the company. curb /kurb/ [noun] a limit on something that is not wanted I have to put a curb on my spending habits to save more money. sleep-deprivation /sleep dep-ruh-VEY-shuhn/ [noun] the condition of not having enough sleep There are a lot of reasons that cause sleep-deprivation and one is depression. correlation /kawr-uh-LEY-shuhn/ [noun] a connection or relationship between two or more…
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