Beginner

Former Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara retires

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Photo by © KYODO via The Mainichi Pre-reading questions: Do you play sports? What is your favorite sport? Vocabulary: player /PLEY-er/ [noun] someone who takes part in a game or sport My brother’s dream is to become a basketball player. right-handed /right-handed/ [adjective] using your right hand to write with and do most things I’d rather be right-handed than left-handed. season /SEE-zuhn/ [noun] the period of the year during which a particular sport is played The baseball season starts in March and ends in September this year. career /kuh-REER/ [noun] a job for which you are trained so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money She wants to…
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Wasao becomes the new stationmaster

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Photo by © KYODO via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you like dogs? Can dogs make people happy? Vocabulary: choose /chohz/ [verb] to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities The company will choose a new board member. take place /teyk-pleys/ [verb] to happen The meeting will take place on March 25, 2020. wife /wahyf/ [noun] the woman to whom a man is married His wife is very thoughtful. officer /AW-fuh-ser/ [noun] a person who has a position of authority in an organization One of the Navy’s officers is looking for a new office building. improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] to get better, or to make something…
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Possible cure found for box jellyfish sting

Possible cure found for box jellyfish sting

Pre-reading questions: Do you like sea animals? What is your favorite animal? Vocabulary: possible /POS-uh-buhl/ [adjective] able to be done or achieved, or able to exist Is it possible to bring a camera inside the concert venue? sting /sting/ [noun] if an insect, plant, or animal stings, it produces a small but painful injury, usually with a poison How do you treat a bee sting? dangerous /DEYN-jer-uhs/ [adjective] able or likely to cause harm or death It is dangerous to walk alone especially at night. medicine /MED-uh-sin/ [noun] substance, especially in the form of a liquid or a pill, that is a treatment for illness or injury Take your medicine…
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Facebook chief wants more government regulation of internet

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Photo by © Getty via Evoke.ie Pre-reading questions: When did you first use the internet? Do you use the internet everyday? Vocabulary: rule /rool/ [noun] an accepted principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done Every employee should follow the rules of their company. dangerous /DEYN-jer-uhs/ [adjective] able or likely to cause harm or death, or unpleasant problems Don’t go to the mountains alone, it is dangerous! agreed /uh-GREE/ [adjective] accepted Sellers should follow the agreed standard retail price. important /im-PAWR-tnt/ [adjective] a great value, meaning, or effect It is important to practice your right to vote. before /bih-FAWR/ [adverb] at or during a time…
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Living alone increases the risk of mental health disorders

living alone

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to live alone? What do you usually do when you are alone? Vocabulary: sadness /sad-nuhs/ [noun] the feeling of being sad or unhappy She doesn’t have any idea what causes her sadness. period /PEER-ee-uhd/ [noun] a length of time They have to finish the study over a ten-month period. employment /em-PLOI-muhnt/ [noun] the fact of someone being paid to work for a company or organization It’s good that the employment rate of the country is increasing. result /ri-zuhlt/ [noun] the information you get from something The result of the exam was excellent! importance /im-PAWR-tns/ [noun] the quality of being important He was asked to report…
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New device translates thoughts into speech

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Pre-reading questions: Do you think technologies are helpful? What technologies do you always use? Vocabulary: thought /thawt/ [noun] the act of thinking about or considering something, an idea or opinion, or a set of ideas The student shared his thoughts about the research to his professor. patient /PEY-shuhnt/ [noun] a person who is receiving medical care Doctors always make sure to check on their patients’ health. produce /pruh-DOOS/ [verb] to make something or bring something into existence The larynx or voice box is the part of the body that produces sound. result /ri-ZUHLT/ [noun] the information you get from something The result of the exam was posted yesterday. successful /suh k-ses-fuhl/…
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The Marie Kondo style of decluttering expenses

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Photo by © AP Photo/Seth Wenig via The Mainichi Pre-Reading Questions: Do you know the KonMari method? Where do you usually spend your money? Vocabulary: tidy /TAHY-dee/ [verb] to make a place or collection of things clean Tidy up a bit before we go to the movies. goal /gohl/ [noun] a purpose, or something you want to achieve Dave has already achieved many of his goals. afterwards /AF-ter-werds/ [adverb] after the time mentioned We can play now but we must clean the house afterwards. spend /spend/ [verb] to give money as a payment for something My friends are spending too much money. carefully /kair-fuh-li/ [adverb] adverb The project must be…
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Research recommends eating rice to fight obesity

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Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like eating rice? What is your favorite food? Vocabulary: gain /geyn/ [verb] to increase in weight, speed, height, or amount She gained a lot of weight during her vacation. meal /meel/ [noun] an occasion when food is eaten I am on a diet, so I only eat one meal a day. gram /gram/ [noun] a unit of mass equal to 0.001 kilograms The article says that a person can eat 400 grams of rice per day. adult /uh-DUHLT/ [noun] a person or animal that has grown to full size and strength She is now considered an adult after she turned 18. fit /fit/ [adjective] healthy and…
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Tokyo’s Bunkitsu: A gallery-like bookstore

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Photo by © LIBRO PLUS via The Japan Times Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like reading books? Do you like going to bookstores? Vocabulary: clearly /KLEER-lee/ [adverb] certainly; obviously; without a doubt As you can see, that restaurant is clearly famous. magazine /mag-uh-ZEEN/ [noun] a type of thin book with a paper cover that is published regularly and usually contains articles and photographs My sister bought a fashion magazine yesterday. customer /KUHS-tuh-mer/ [noun] a person who buys goods or a service Mr. Sato is a regular customer at our restaurant. miss /mis/ [verb] to fail to do, see, or experience something You will miss your chance if you just sit here…
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Cherry blossoms attract more foreign tourists

cherry blossom

Pre-reading questions: Where do you usually hold “hanami”? What do you usually do during “hanami”? Vocabulary: moment /MOH-muhnt/ [noun] a very short period of time Miho will always remember the moments she spent studying abroad. foreign /FAWR-in/ [adjective] belonging to a country that is not your own Anna loves eating foreign food. tourist /TOOR-ist/ [noun] a person who travels and visits places for pleasure and interest A lot of tourists visit Disneyland every year. spot /spot/ [noun] a particular place Hachiko Statue is one of the most popular meeting spots in Tokyo. sign /sahyn/ [noun] a device that gives information to people who see it Drivers must be careful on…
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