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Odd? It’s normal, at least for Sayaka Murata

2018年8月1日

Odd Its normal at least for Sayaka Murata

Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like going to convenience stores? What can you say about people working in convenience stores? Vocabulary: novelist /NOV-uh-list/ [noun] a person who writes long stories Her dream is to become a novelist. translate /trans-LEYT/ [verb] to change writing or speech from one language into another Beth helped his brother translate his speech. curious /KYOOR-ee-uhs/ [adjective] interested in learning about people or things around you Lily is curious about his life. manual /MAN-yoo-uhl/ [noun] a book that gives instructions on how to do something or how to use something Robin gave his cooking manual to his brother. unique /yoo-NEEK/…
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Bob Marley film is currently in the making

2018年7月26日

bob marley

Pre-reading questions: What kind of music do you listen to? Do you know Bob Marley? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: develop /dih-VEL-uhp/ [verb] to make something new The scientist developed a new product icon /AHY-kon/ [noun] a person that is famous for something David Bowie is my favorite pop icon. reggae /REG-ey/ [noun] a type of popular music from Jamaica Listening to reggae makes me feel happy. known /nohn/ [adjective] popular My mother was a known actress. pass away /pahs uh-WEY/ [phrasal verb] to die I am sad to hear that he passed away. Ziggy Marley is making a new movie about his father, Bob Marley. Ziggy is working with…
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Google software can now identify ramen by shop

2018年7月24日

Google software can now identify ramen by shop

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to eat ramen? How often do you eat ramen? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] to know or name something We can’t identify the person in the picture. software /SAWFT-wair/ [noun] a program that you use to make a computer do something This new software is very useful. gather /GATH-er/ [verb] to collect things The teacher gathered the students’ papers. arrangement /uh-REYNJ-muhnt/ [noun] the positions of a group of objects I like the arrangement of these flowers. topping /TOP-ping/ [noun] food that is put on top of other food My favorite ice cream has many toppings. Ramen fans can now identify different bowls…
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Part-time jobs for teenagers

2018年7月19日

part-time job for teenagers

Pre-reading questions: Is work more fun than school? Please explain your answer. What part-time job do you want to try? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: teenager /TEEN-ey-jer/ [noun] a person who is 13 to 19 years old Children and teenagers are not allowed to watch this movie. focus /FOH-kuhs/ [verb] to give attention to someone or something The athletes are focusing on their training. decrease /dih-KREES/ [verb] to become less Car sales decreased by 15% this year. affect /uh-FEKT/ [verb] to cause change to someone or something The heat affected the crops. performance /per-FAWR-muhns/ [noun] the act of doing something She really wanted to improve her performance in school. Secretary…
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North & South Korea pledge peace

2018年7月17日

North & South Korea pledge peace and end of nuclear weapons

Pre-reading questions: Do you like quiet places? Please explain your answer. Are you interested in world news? Why or why not? Vocabulary: pledge /plej/ [verb] to make a serious or formal promise The president pledged to be an honest leader. border /BAWR-der/ [noun] the line that divides one country or place from another You need a passport if you want to cross the border. divide /dih-VAHYD/ [verb] to separate into parts or groups Divide yourselves into 3 groups. conflict /KON-flikt/ [noun] disagreement between people with different views Don’t let conflicts ruin your friendship. relation /ri-LEY-shuhn/ [noun] the way two people or groups of people feel and behave towards each other…
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Japan’s coming of age to be lowered to 18 years old

2018年7月12日

Japan's coming of age to be lowered to 18 years old

Pre-reading questions: What did you enjoy doing when you were younger? What do you do on your birthday? Vocabulary: bill /bil/ [noun] a draft of a proposed law The Congress has passed the Bill of Rights. maturity /muh-CHOOR-i-tee/ [noun] the state of being mentally or physically developed or adult Maturity is important in marriage. contract /KON-trakt/ [noun] a written or spoken agreement You need to sign the contract if you want to work here. consent /kuhn-SENT/ [noun] permission or approval The parents gave him consent to marry their daughter. gamble /GAM-buhl/ [verb] play games of chance for money or bet He gambled away most of his money. The Cabinet has…
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Too much ice cream may lead to a heart attack

2018年7月10日

Too much ice cream may lead to heart attack

Pre-reading questions: Do you like ice cream? Why or why not? Which ice cream flavor do you prefer, chocolate or strawberry? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: health /helth/ [noun] the condition of the body or mind Exercise is good for our health. contain /kuhn-TEYN/ [verb] to be made up of something The book contains 6 chapters. fat /fat/ [noun] a natural oil that is gotten from animal bodies He is in a low-fat diet. increase /in-KREES/ [verb] to make something greater in size or amount The number of tourists in Japan has increased. risk /risk/ [noun] could cause danger, harm, or loss Jane takes a risk every time she goes…
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Millennials look for online reviews when shopping

2018年7月5日

Millenials only buy products with online reviews

Pre-reading questions: When do you go shopping? What do you usually buy? Vocabulary: millennial /mil-LEN-ee-uhl/ [noun] someone born in the 70’s until early 90’s She likes music from the 90’s because she’s a millennial. online /ON-LAHYN/ [adjective] done on the Internet I prefer shopping online to going to malls. review /ri-VYOO/ [noun] a report, study, or opinion on something I always check the reviews before buying something. buyer /BAHY-er/ [noun] a person who pays money for something He is looking for a buyer of his house. positive /POZ-i-tiv/ [adjective] good This woman always says positive things about her friends. Studies show that most millennials read reviews before buying a product….
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Where the hashtag FOMO came from

2018年6月26日

Where the hashtag FOMO comes from

Pre-reading questions: What social media sites do you use? Do you follow what is popular? Why or why not? Vocabulary: hashtag /HASH-tag/ [noun] a general topic in social media sites like Twitter and Instagram You should use a hashtag when posting on Facebook. gain /geyn/ [verb] to get something You need to gain some experience for this job. miss out /mis out/ [phrasal verb] to not use or to not have an opportunity to experience something good I don’t want to miss out on their first concert. character /KAR-ik-ter/ [noun] a quality of a person or thing Her bad character is the reason why she doesn’t have friends. competitive /kuhm-PET-i-tiv/…
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Aya Ueto stars in suspense drama

2018年6月21日

Photo by Shuichi Aizawa via Flickr Pre-reading questions: What do you usually do during your free time? What is your favorite TV show? Vocabulary: role /rohl/ [noun] a part played by an actor I played the role of the hero. play /pley/ [verb] to act as a character in a play, film, etc. I played the role of the mayor in the film. journalist /JUR-nl-ist/ [adverb] a person who writes for newspapers, magazines, TV, or radio Professor Yukawa is currently working as a journalist in District News & Publishing. kidnap /KID-nap/ [verb] to carry away a person by force and against his or her will The president’s daughter was kidnapped…
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