Author Archive: admin

No vaccines to be distributed unless proven safe and effective, UN says

vaccine

Pre-reading questions: Have you been vaccinated? If so, for what disease? If not, would you try it? What do you do to stay healthy? Vocabulary: press conference /pres KON-fer-uhns/ [noun] – a meeting at which a person or organization makes a public statement and reporters can ask questions The prime minister will hold a press conference this Monday. distribute /dih-STRIB-yoot/ [verb] – to give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something Kindly distribute the test papers to your classmates. authorization /aw-ther-uh-ZEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the action of giving someone official permission for something We were given authorization to use the meeting room this afternoon. otherwise /UHTH-er-wahyz/ [conjunction]…
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Experts discover the cleanest air on Earth

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Pre-reading questions: Do you always go outside? Does smoke pollute the air? Vocabulary: locate /LOH-keyt/ [verb] — to be in a particular place Their office is located inside the mall. believe /bih-LEEV/ [verb] — to think that something is true, correct, or real Miracles are to those who believe in them. safe /seyf/ [adjective] — not in danger or likely to be harmed I want to make sure that all of the people here in this building are safe. describe /dih-SKRAHYB/ [verb] — to say or write what someone or something is like Please describe to the court exactly what you saw. difference /DIF-er-uhns/ [noun] — the way in which…
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Experts discover the cleanest air on Earth

antarctica-2680626_1920

Vocabulary: boundary /BOUN-duh-ree/ [noun] — a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something Mount Everest marks the boundary between China and Nepal. scrutinize /SKROOT-n-ahyz/ [verb] — to examine something very carefully in order to discover information They scrutinized all canned goods to see if they are poisonous as written in the report. isolated /AHY-suh-ley-tid/ [adjective] — not near to other places The farm is isolated; the nearest house is 25 kilometers away. composition /kom-puh-ZISH-uh n/ [noun] — the parts, substances, etc. that something is made of The chemical composition of water is two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. distinctness /dih-STINGKT-nes/ [noun] — the quality of…
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Experts discover the cleanest air on Earth

antarctica-2680626_1920

Pre-reading questions: What kind of weather do you like the most? Do you want to visit Antarctica? Why or why not? Vocabulary: identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] — to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or thing is Police will have the pictures enlarged in an attempt to identify the thief crisis /KRAHY-sis/ [noun] — a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering The rise and fall of prices caused a financial crisis. investigate /in-VES-ti-geyt/ [verb] — to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially to discover the truth I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate. origin /AWR-i-jin/ [noun] — the beginning…
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Postcards to save Beirut’s fragile beauties

beirut

© Joseph Khoury Vocabulary: skirt /skurt/ [verb] – to go around the edge of something No worries, we won’t go in. We’re just going to skirt the abandoned school. aftermath /AF-ter-math/ [noun] – the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effect that it causes The aftermath of the earthquake left about 50 structures destroyed and 30 families homeless. showcase /SHOH-keys/ [verb] – to show the best qualities of something The film showcased the good side of white lies depending on the situation. safeguard /SEYF-gahrd/ [verb] – to protect someone or something so that they are not harmed, damaged, or lost Our top priority is to safeguard…
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Postcards to save Beirut’s fragile beauties

beirut

© Joseph Khoury Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually take pictures of? Do you still use postcards? Why or why not? Vocabulary: neighborhood /NEY-ber-hood/ [noun] – the area of a town that surrounds someone’s home, or the people who live in this area I recommend you to visit the two famous supermarkets in this neighborhood. highlight /HAHY-lahyt/ [verb] – to attract attention or to emphasize something important The entire program highlights the importance of the English language. raw /raw/ [adjective] – in a natural state From here, you can see the raw structure of the building. demolish /dih-MOL-ish/ [verb] – to completely destroy buildings or other structures The old buildings…
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Postcards to save Beirut’s fragile beauties

beirut

© Joseph Khoury Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like taking pictures? Have you been to other countries? Vocabulary: historic /hi-STAWR-ik/ [adjective] – important or likely to be important in history Let’s visit some historic temples in Nagoya. architect /AHR-ki-tekt/ [noun] – someone whose job is to design buildings Isozaki Arata is a Japanese architect who designed Art Tower Mito. boutique /boo-TEEK/ [noun] – a small shop that sells fashionable clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. The boutique has a 40% off sale on selected items. blast /blahst/ [noun] – an explosion There was a powerful blast at the port in Beirut last August 4. value /VAL-yoo/ [noun] – the importance or worth of…
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Rare breed of singing dogs, found again in the wild after 50 years

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© New Guinea Highland Wild dog foundation via: CNN Pre-reading questions: How often do you go to zoos? If you were to choose what kind of animal you would be, what is it and why? Vocabulary: expedition /ek-spi-DISH-uhn/ [noun] ⁠— an organized journey for a particular purpose The team prepared themselves for the expedition ancestor /AN-ses-ter/ [noun] ⁠— a plant, animal, or object that is related to one existing at a later point in time These species share a common ancestor. highland /HAHY-luhnd/ [noun] ⁠— in or relating to an area with mountains or hills Their grandparents were born and raised in the highlands. unique /yoo-NEEK/ [adjective] ⁠— being the…
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