Beginner

Sony’s Lifelog app offers new features

2017年3月16日

technology

Pre-reading questions: How do you use your smartphone? Do you monitor your food? Why or why not? Lifelog is an application for health. It is from Sony and it can be used on smartphones. To use its new feature, you just take a picture of any food and the app will give you a complete information about it. The app will give you a calorie count of your food and personalized nutritional advice. The application still needs more testing for accuracy. Vocabulary: application [noun] – program designed for a purpose calorie [noun] – a unit of energy; a way of describing how much energy your body could get from eating…
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Beginner

Free Wi-Fi on Mount Everest

2017年3月16日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Have you tried mountain climbing? Which places do you think still don’t have wi-fi?   Nepal plans to make free wi-fi zones to help with communication and to aid rescuers. At 5,360 meters high, this will be the highest location of wi-fi ever made. Mount Everest is very popular to tourists especially mountaineers. Nepal plans to make more wi-fi zones to help people send messages and possibly, save lives.   Vocabulary: rescuer – [noun] someone who saves another person’s life from danger base camp – [noun] a place where food and things are kept by people who are climbing the mountain location – [noun] place tourist –…
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Beginner

The world’s richest race

2017年3月15日

Sports - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Are you interested in any type of race? What do you think about horse racing? Arrogate* took the biggest prize in a horse race in Florida last Saturday. Shaman Ghost* was second and Neolithic* finished third. Chrome, ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, took the ninth spot. Twelve horses raced and their owners paid $1 million each to join. The event was attended by celebrities including UFC champion Conor McGregor. Most eyes were on Arrogate and California Chrome. A total of 12,000 racegoers watched the event. *Arrogate, Shaman Ghost and Neolithic are the names of the horses that raced Vocabulary: prize [noun] – reward; something given to someone who…
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Beginner

Morning coffee might slow down aging

2017年3月15日

Health - Beg

  Pre-reading questions: Do you drink coffee every day? How many cups of coffee can you drink in a day?   A study says that our morning coffee is not really bad for our health. Older people with low levels of infection are all coffee drinkers. People who drink more than 5 cups of coffee per day show low levels of inflammation. Researchers says that constant inflammation causes diseases of aging, like diabetes and heart problems. Inflammation is still needed by the immune system; it fights infection and toxic compounds. But, it loses control when a person is aging.   Vocabulary: inflammation – [noun] a condition in which a part…
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Beginner

Disney tickets get more expensive

2017年3月15日

Business - B

  Pre-reading questions: What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “happiest place on earth?” Have you been to Disneyland before?   Disneyland is popular for its magical theme that people of all ages find it fascinating. Millions of tourists around the world visit the place each year. The company announced that there will be a price increase in the ticket particularly in Disneyland California and Disney World Florida.   Vocabulary: popular [adjective] – liked or admired by many people or by a particular person or group magical [adjective] – beautiful or delightful in a way that seems removed from everyday life fascinating [adjective] – extremely interesting or…
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Beginner

Amsterdam to unleash self-driving boats

2017年3月14日

technology

  Pre-reading questions: Have you heard of a self-driving car? Do you think robots are helpful to people? Why?   In 2017, a self-driving car called “Roboat” will be tested in public. It is a product of partnership between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS). These Roboats cost $27 million. Self-driving boats will give an eco-friendly option in transportation. If trials of Roboats are successful, there will be more Roboats used in Amsterdam.   Vocabulary: public [noun] – people in community cost [noun] – estimate price of eco-friendly [adjective] – not harmful to the environment option [noun] – a thing that…
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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