Beginner

McDonald’s opens in Holy See despite protests

2017年3月14日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite fast-food place? Why? How do you give respect to traditions?   The popular fast-food chain McDonald’s has almost 40,000 locations worldwide. Their newest restaurant opened at Holy See, near St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Elio Sgreccia says that McDonald’s has no respect for tradition. Meanwhile, Cardinal Domenix Calcagana lets McDonald’s stay because there is no problem. McDonald’s will be open seven days a week.   Vocabulary: chain- [noun] group of businesses Holy See- [proper noun] the territory inside Vatican City worldwide- [adjective] global tradition- [noun] lifestyle seven days a week- [phrase] Sunday until Saturday, all days in a week   True or False: McDonald’s…
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Beginner

Nokia releases a revamped version of 3310

2017年3月14日

technology

Pre-reading questions: At what age did you have your first mobile phone? Do you know Nokia 3310? Nokia releases a new 3310 model. It’s the updated model of the classic phone that was popular back then. It will be available globally in the second quarter of this year. Consumers have four colors to choose from – red and yellow, and blue and gray. The battery life on standby mode is 25.3 days and with up to 22.1 hours of talk time. It is a basic phone with voice and text messaging, Opera Mini browser, MP3 player, camera, 2 sim slots, and the classic Snake game. Vocabulary: updated [adjective] – improved;…
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Beginner

Working mothers receive support from companies

2017年3月13日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Do/Did both of your parents work? What does/did you mother do? Some companies in Japan  have  started giving more support to working mothers. One company started asking all fathers to take parental leave. This way, fathers can take care of their young kids and mothers can have more time to work. Some Japanese companies have started opening daycare centers for their employees’ little children. The government hopes that more support for working mothers can improve the economy. Vocabulary: support [noun] – something given to help someone working mother/father [noun] – mother/father who has a job and takes care of her/his children parental leave [noun] – time that a…
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Beginner

Sunflowers light up Pangasinan in Philippines

2017年3月13日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Do you like flowers? Why or why not? Have you seen a sunflower?   Last February 15, Tayug farmers in Pangasinan partnered with Filipino seed company Allied Botanical Corporation, the government, and the Department of Tourism to build the “A-Maze-Ing Sunflowers”. It has different colorful flowers that surround a sunflower maze. The A-Maze-Ing Sunflowers suddenly became the center of attraction of the city. Photos and videos of the newest tourist attraction were all viral in the internet.   Vocabulary: farmer [noun] – a person who owns or manages a farm colorful [adjective] – having much or different colors; bright maze [noun] – a network of paths designed…
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Beginner

Dirty environments cost young children’s lives

2017年3月13日

Health - Beg

  Pre-reading questions: Do you think it’s important to have a clean household? Why or why not? Do you think children are more prone to health diseases?   World Health Organization or WHO reports that unsafe drinking water, pollution, and poor practices on cleanliness are one of the reasons why a lot of children die every year. A child’s developing body is weak against the effects of dirty air and water. Babies that are exposed to pollution in early age can get serious health conditions like heart and lung diseases when they get older. WHO encourages everyone to clean the environment for the sake of the children. WHO says that…
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Beginner

Vegemite brand back in Australian ownership

2017年3月10日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: What’s your favorite Japanese food spread? What’s the most famous food spread in your country? Vegemite spread brand is now owned by an Australian company again. Bega cheese company bought Vegemite brand from Mondelez International for A$460 million. Mondelez International said they will focus on their main products like Cadbury and Oreos instead. Vegemite is made of yeast. It is rich in Vitamin B. It has a dark color and it tastes bitter. This is a famous spread in Australia that is already part of their culture. Vocabulary: vegemite – [noun] a popular spread made in Australia yeast – [noun] a commercial product containing living yeast cells that…
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Beginner

Italy’s rarest pasta revealed

2017年3月10日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite pasta? What is your favorite Italian food? Su filindeu, the world’s rarest pasta is only made in Sardinia, Italy. Its recipe is well kept in Paula Abraini’s family. Today, only three women in Abraini’s family can make it. At present, the pasta is only served to pilgrims that visit a holy mountain in their place. The family revealed that the recipe consists of 3 ingredients. People need hard work to make it. Vocabulary: rare [adjective] – unusual; uncommon; unique recipe [noun] – a set of instructions for making or preparing food. pilgrim [noun] – a person who journeys to a holy place ingredient [noun]…
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Beginner

Cancer drugs may threaten the heart

2017年3月10日

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you often read about health in the newspaper? What is the best way to stay healthy? Medicines used to fight cancer can also cause heart problems. Less than one percent of patients taking them have experienced heart problems. They cause damages to the body and the heart. Doctors are still working to find a cure for those heart problems caused by cancer drugs. Vocabulary: cancer – [noun] a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body cure – [noun] something that stops the disease drug – [noun] a medicine True or False: Medicines used…
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Beginner

Parents to be penalized if children are always late for school

2017年3月9日

Education - B

  Pre-reading questions: What do you do to get to school or work early? Do you think people who are late in school or work should be punished?   Parents can be punished by the school if their children are always late for school. Catherine Staltham, the principal of Winter Gardens Academy, said that parents will pay £60 if their children did not reach the 9:00am bell. This rule will apply starting April 1. The Department for Education says that schools should not allow students to be late. Parents should be responsible for their children’s attendance in school.   Vocabulary: punish- [verb] to correct from wrongdoing principal- [noun] head teacher…
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Beginner

Turkish international school ‘bans’ Christmas

2017年3月9日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: How do you celebrate Christmas? Do you have any wish/es for Christmas?   An international school in Istanbul bans Christmas celebrations. Istanbul Lisesi teachers and staffs were told that Christmas traditions and carol-singing are not allowed. Istanbul Lisesi is a Turkish-German school with Turkish students and German teachers. Many German officials are angry with the school. However, the school said they still celebrate Christmas.   Vocabulary: Istanbul- [proper noun] a city in Turkey international- [adjective] global celebrations- [noun] joyful occasion traditions- [noun] culture ban- [noun] not allowed   True or False: Istanbul Lisesi teachers and staff were told that Christmas carol-singing are allowed. Istanbul Lisesi is a…
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Beginner