Beginner

Facebook makes people unhappy, according to a study

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Pre-reading questions: What do you do in your free time? What makes you happy? Vocabulary: health /helth/ [noun] the condition of the body or mind and the degree to which it is free from illness She has a good health. make /meyk/ [verb] to perform an action I have to make a decision. university /yoo-nuh-vur-si-tee/ [noun] a place of higher education usually for people who have finished twelve years of schooling Jay is going to a private university next year. user /yoo-zer/ [noun] someone who uses a product, machine, or service John is a twitter user. connected /kuh-nek-tid/ [adjective] joined together They are finally connected after several years. According to…
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World’s largest underwater theme park to open in Bahrain

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Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like traveling? Do you like swimming? Vocabulary: underwater /uhn-der-waw-ter/ [adjective] under the surface of water, esp. under the surface of the sea They have an underwater camera. attraction /uh-trak-shuhn/ [noun] something that people come to see because they are interested in it Europe has many tourist attractions. aircraft /air-kraft/ [noun] any vehicle made to fly The aircraft will take off now. special /spesh-uhl/ [noun] not ordinary or usual The chair in my room is special. experiment /ek-sper-uh-ment/ [noun] a test done in order to learn something They made an experiment in their Science subject. Planning your next travel vacation? There are many tourist spots that you…
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Sumo grand champion Kisenosato retires

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Photo by © Nikkan Sports via The Japan Times Sports Pre-reading questions: Do you play sports? What are your hobbies? Vocabulary: decide /dih-sahyd/ [verb] to choose something, especially after thinking carefully about several possibilities She decided to leave the company for a better opportunity. participate /pahr-tis-uh-peyt/ [verb] to take part in an event or activity He doesn’t like to participate in the discussion. wrestler /res-uhlr/ [noun] a person who wrestles as a sport Dwayne Johnson is a professional wrestler. become /bih-kuhm/ [verb] to start to be She wants to become a good badminton player. straight /strey/ [adjective] following one after another without an interruption The team has three straight wins…
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How much money do foreign visitors spend in Japan?

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Pre-Reading Questions: What is your favorite sightseeing spot in Japan? What country do you want to visit? Vocabulary: travel /trav-uhl/ [verb] to make a journey, usually over a long distance I usually travel by bus when I go to work. sightseeing /sahyt-see-ing/ [noun] the activity of visiting interesting places She likes to go sightseeing when she feels bored. tourist /toor-ist/ [noun] someone who visits a place for pleasure and interest There are a lot of tourists visiting Kyoto. foreigner /fawr-uh-ner/ [noun] a person who comes from another country The Japanese woman is married to a foreigner. spend /spend/ [verb] to give money as a payment for something She spends her…
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Barnard-b discovered to be a new potential home

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Pre-reading questions: Can there be another earth in the galaxy? Do you think that we can live in another planet? Vocabulary: possible /pos-uh-buhl/ [adjective] able to be done or achieved, or able to exist All things are possible for those who believe. nearest /neer-est/ [adjective] not far away in distance, time, characteristics, or quality Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun. quickly /kwik-lee/ [adverb] at a fast speed The rocket quickly launched to space. temperature /tem-per-uh-cher/ [noun] the measured amount of heat in a place or in the body Western people has heating under their houses to keep it warm. information /in-fer-mey-shuhn/ [noun] facts about a situation, person, event,…
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Mud and plants on new Pacific island confuse scientists

Mud and plants on new pacific island confuse scientist

Pre-reading questions: Have you been to an island before? Do you want to be a scientist? Vocabulary: confuse /kuhn-fyooz/ [verb] to make something difficult to understand I don’t understand why Math confuses me every time I study it. nearby /neer-bahy/ [adjective] not far away in distance; close The nearby cities are surrounded with different kinds of flowers. fertilize /fur-tl-ahy-zer/ [verb] to spread a natural or chemical substance on land or plants, in order to make the plants grow well My parents always ask me to fertilize the flowers and plants in the backyard. gravel /grav-uhl/ [noun] small, rounded stones, often mixed with sand I saw him putting the gravels in…
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King of Malaysia leaves the throne

King of Malaysia leaves the throne

Pre-reading questions: Have you been to Malaysia? Do you want to live in a palace? Vocabulary: king /king/ [noun] a male ruler of a country His childhood dream was to be a king of his country. resign /ri-ZAHYN/ [verb] to give up a job or position He wants to resign as a dressmaker. report /ri-POHRT/ [verb] to give a description of something or information about it to someone The man called the police to report the food poisoning in a restaurant. stay /stey/ [verb] Her teacher wished her to stay humble and kind. Her teacher wished her to stay humble and kind. different /DIF-er-uhn/ [adjective] not the same The color…
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Change your diet to save mother earth

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Pre-Reading Questions: How often do you eat vegetables? Do you always eat unhealthy foods? Vocabulary: diet /DAHY-it/ [noun] an eating plan in which someone eats only particular types of food Ellise is on a low-fat, high-protein diet. contain /kuhn-TEYN/ [verb] to include something as a part Try to eat food that contains a lot of nutrients. according to /uh-KUWR-ding tuh/ [preposition] as stated by According to the news, it will snow tomorrow. reduce /ri-DOOS/ [verb] to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc. To lose weight, one must reduce the number of calories he or she eats. damage /DAM-ij/ [noun] harm or injury The storm didn’t cause…
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Heisei era gives new meaning of ‘Japanese’

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like to learn about the culture of other countries? Do you like to meet foreign people? Vocabulary: labor /LEY-bor/ [noun] practical work that involves physical effort He can still do physical labor even though he is old. member /MEM-ber/ [noun] a person, animal, or thing that is part of a group She is a member of a very strong volleyball team. system /SIS-tuhm/ [noun] a way of doing things; a method A successful country usually has a good government system. accept /ak-SEPT/ [verb] to agree to take something She accepts the fact that he is gone. multiracial /muhl-tee-REY-shuhl/ [adjective] involving people of several different races I…
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Volkswagen changes charging system for electric vehicles

Volkswagen new stategy for electric vehicles

Pre-reading questions: Do you like cars? What is your favorite car brand? Vocabulary: public /PUHB-lik/ [noun] all people in general Fake news caused confusion to the public. charge /chahrj/ [verb] to put electricity into an electrical device That smartphone needs to be charged for two hours only vehicle /VEE-i-kuhl/ [noun] a machine that people ride to go from one place to another Sam doesn’t like riding public vehicles. unit /YOO-nit/ [noun] a machine or item that is part of a set The company released new television units this month. batch /bach/ [noun] a group of people or things A new batch of students are looking for summer jobs. Volkswagen shares…
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