Beginner

Kyoto city monitors tourists’ behavior via smartphone

Kyoto monitor's tourists' behavior via smartphone

Pre-reading questions: Do you like historic places? What is your favorite city in Japan? Vocabulary: foreign /FAWR-in/ [adjective] belonging or connected to a country that is not your own Tom can speak two foreign languages. polite /puh-LAHYT/ [adjective] behaving in a way that is socially correct We need to be polite when we have visitors. effect /ih-FEKT/ [noun] the result of a particular influence This medicine has the effect of making someone sleepy. tourism /TOOR-iz-uhm/ [noun] the business of providing services such as transport, places to stay, or entertainment for people who are on holiday Tourism is one of the country’s main industries. historic /hi-STOR-ik/ [adjective] important or likely to…
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Kanazawa as the ice cream capital

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Pre-Reading Questions: What makes sushi famous in Japan? What dishes can you cook? Vocabulary: ice cream /AHYS-kreem/ [noun] a sweet, frozen food made from milk and cream The ice cream truck arrived at 10 PM. season /SEE-zuhn/ [noun] one of the four parts a year is divided into; spring, summer, fall, or winter The summer season is the most awaited season by the students. earn /urn/ [verb] to receive money as payment for work that you do You will earn more if you work harder. convenient /kuhn-VEEN-yuhnt/ [adjective] suitable for your purposes and causing no difficulty for your schedule or plans Fast food restaurants are very convenient for those who…
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“Weathering with You” to be Japan’s entry for International Film award

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© Photo by GKIDS , INC- © 2019 TOHO CO.,LTD / CoMix Wave Films Inc./ via IMDb Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite movie? Do you like watching animated movies? Vocabulary: film /film/ [noun] a movie The film is about the life of Stephen Hawking. international /in-ter-NASH-uh-nl/ [adjective] involving more than one country Music is an international language. earn /urn/ [verb] to receive money as payment for work that you do Claire changed jobs to earn more money. since /sins/ [preposition] in the time after a particular time in the past I’ve been here since July. local /LOH-kuhl/ [adjective] from, existing in, or serving a particular place or small area…
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Talking to yourself in third person can help you succeed

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Pre-Reading Questions: Have you tried talking to yourself? Do you usually ask for advice from other people? Vocabulary: intelligence /in-TEL-i-juhns/ [noun] the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments She will take an intelligence test tomorrow. self-reflection /self ri-FLEK-shuhn/ [noun] the activity of thinking about your own feelings and behavior John spends a lot of time doing self-reflection. pronoun /PROH-noun/ [noun] a word that is used instead of a noun or a noun phrase Rin will have a report about pronouns. contrary /KON-trer-ee/ [noun] used to show that you think or feel the opposite of what has just been stated She thinks that the movie is a comedy, on the…
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Seeking modernization enhances life at work, according to a Japanese company president

Pre-reading questions: What do you enjoy doing? What are your skills? Vocabulary: daily /DEY-lee/ [adjective] happening on or relating to every day It is important to have daily supplies. skill /skil/ [noun] a special ability to do something We have to improve our skills every day. switch /swich/ [verb] to change suddenly or completely from one thing to another Joanne switched her major from Communication to Information Technology. create /kree-EYT/ [verb] to cause something to exist or to make something new She created a new bag design. fulfilled /fool-FILED/ [adjective] feeling happy because you get everything you want from life Her mother feels fulfilled because she graduated from college. The…
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Astonishing 2D Cafe in Tokyo attracts customers

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like going to cafes? Do you like drinking coffee? Vocabulary: seem /seem/ [verb] to appear to be John seems so sad today. flavor /FLEY-ver/ [noun] the particular way a substance, esp. food or drink, is recognized from its taste and smell I like the flavor of coffee. popular /POP-yuh-ler/ [adjective] liked, enjoyed, or supported by many people Cherry Blossom is popular in Japan. extraordinary /ik-STAWR-dn-er-ee/ [adjective] very unusual, special, unexpected, or strange Holly made an extraordinary story. relax /ri-LAKS/ [verb] to become or cause someone to become calm and comfortable The park downtown is a good place to relax. The new 2D cafe in Tokyo’s Shin…
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WeChat puts restriction on face-swapping app Zao

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Pre-reading questions: What apps do you have on your smartphone? Do you like to use face-swapping apps? Vocabulary: change /cheynj/ [verb] to get one thing in place of another thing My parents changed coal with oil. celebrity /suh-LEB-ri-tee/ [noun] someone who is famous, especially in the entertainment business My sister married a celebrity chef. download /DOUN-lohd/ [verb] to copy or move programs or information into a computer’s memory Be careful downloading too many apps on your smartphone. announcement /uh-NOUNS-muhnt/ [noun] something that someone says officially, giving information about something I saw their wedding announcement on Facebook. creator /kree-EY-ter/ [noun] someone who has invented something My father is the creator of…
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Tokyo tops the world’s safest cities for the third time

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Pre-reading questions: Do you want to live in Tokyo? What is your favorite city? Vocabulary: list /list/ [verb] to make a list, or to include something in a list The doctor listed the medicine he needs to buy. recover /ri-KUHV-er/ [verb] to get better after an illness or a period of difficulty or trouble The basketball team is doing their best to recover from their loss last season. base on /beys-on/ [phrasal verb] to use particular ideas or facts to make a decision or develop a theory Based on a report, Selena Gomez will have a concert tour in Asia next year. see /see/ [verb] to know about something before…
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Robot dogs help people with dementia

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Pre-reading questions: Do you like dogs? Do you have a dog in your house? Vocabulary: creator /kree-EY-ter/ [noun] a person who makes/creates something The creator is very good at making toys. heal /heel/ [verb] to make or become healthy or whole again His wound started to heal when he took herbal medicines. control /kun-TROHL/ [verb] to order, limit, or rule something, or someone’s actions or behavior You need to learn how to control your temper. identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] to recognize or be able to name someone or something I can identify the mistakes just by hearing your explanation. closeness /klohz-ness/ [noun] the quality of knowing someone very well, like them…
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Five approaches to make yourself closer to nature while living in the city

Pre-reading questions: Do you like walking outside or staying at home? Do you like taking care of plants? Vocabulary: improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] to (cause something to) get better Eating healthy food helps him improve his health. attract /uh-TRAKT/ [verb] to cause a person or animal to become interested in someone or something Free food attracts many people. near /neer/ [adverb] not far away in the distance My house is near my school. wonderful /WUHN-der-fuhl/ [adjective] extremely good It is so wonderful to see the beach again. view /vyoo/ [noun] what you can see from a particular place The view from his room’s window is really beautiful. Spending time with nature…
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