Beginner

Yoga may beat depression

2017年4月20日

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you exercise regularly? What are the exercises you know? Yoga is a system of exercises for mental and physical health. A new research suggests that the calming poses and deep breathing exercises of yoga might help people deal with depression since not all people take medications for this kind of disorder. Doctors recommend weekly yoga sessions to keep calm and ease the symptoms of patients such as hopelessness and sadness. Vocabulary: calming [adjective] – without rough motion depression [noun] – a mental illness in which a person is very unhappy and worried for long periods and cannot have a normal life during these periods medication [noun] –…
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Beginner

The surprising friendship of former president George W. Bush and former first lady Michelle Obama

2017年4月11日

entertainment

Pre-reading questions: Do you know George W. Bush? Do you know Michelle Obama? Former Republican President George W. Bush and previous Democrat First Lady Michele Obama showed their friendship in a recent photo from the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. In the said photo, George W. Bush got a sweet hug from Michelle Obama. In an interview, Bush said Michelle Obama likes his sense of humor, and anybody who likes his sense of humor, he immediately likes. Furthermore, Bush added that he’s a teaser and Michelle can deal with it. Vocabulary: teaser – [noun] playful recent – [adjective] not so long ago Republican and…
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Beginner

Barbie at 58: a few facts about the symbolic doll

2017年4月10日

entertainment

Pre-reading questions: What kind of toys do you have? Have you ever seen a Barbie-doll? Barbara Millicent Roberts, also known as Barbie, is a brand of doll representing a slim, shapely young woman, especially one with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. The symbolic doll made by the American toy company named as Mattel made its first public appearance on March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair in New York. In addition to that, Barbie celebrated her 58th birthday last Match 9, 2017 and over the years, the doll has become a cultural image even though some people do not agree with her unrealistic figures. Vocabulary: symbolic…
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Beginner

Software can identify skin cancer

2017年4月10日

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you know what skin cancer is? How do you take care of your skin? Do you wear sunblock? An image-scanning device was invented at Stanford University. It can identify skin cancers exactly like what doctors do. The team who created the software used an algorithm to train a computer to develop artificial intelligence to detect skin cancer. For the training, the team used 130,000 photos of different skin diseases. The system has a record of 2,032 different types of skin diseases. Using the pictures in the system, the device can check if a skin condition is cancerous or not. Vocabulary: invent [verb] – to make something new;…
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Beginner

Refugees may attend London university for free

2017年4月10日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: In your opinion, how important is college education? Do you want to study abroad? The University of East London provides opportunities to refugees in the Middle East by making college education accessible. Using the short course known as Open Learning Initiative or OLIve, students may attend up to full degree in college as well as attend seminars and workshops that are useful in applying for a job. Vocabulary: opportunity [noun] – a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something accessible [adjective] – able to reach or enter refugees [noun] – a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or…
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Beginner

Foreign trainees face tough road in Japan

2017年4月10日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Is it easy to work/study abroad? Have you studied/worked abroad? Vietnamese trainees are studying Japanese language and culture in preparation for a job based in Japan. Trainees will eventually leave their families to work abroad. They want to work in Japan so they can provide a better life for their family. However, there are trainees who escaped because they’re not getting paid properly. Trainees are starting to feel pressured because of the expensive lifestyle in Japan. Vocabulary: trainee – [noun] a person who is training for a job abroad – [abroad] in a foreign country escape – [verb] run away pressured – [verb] stressed out expensive – [adjective]…
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Beginner

Copyright fees to be collected from music schools

2017年4月10日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Who is your favorite artist? Do you play any musical instruments? Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers or also known as JASRAC plans to start collecting copyright fees from music schools starting January 2018. Yamaha Music Foundation might decrease its music students because of this plan. In addition, Yamaha stated that JASRAC’s plan may prevent the progress of Japan’s music culture. JASRAC is in-charge of collecting copyright fees for using music. Vocabulary: copyright – [noun] a method of protecting the rights of a creator through law decrease – [verb] lessen prevent – [verb] to stop tuition fee – [noun] payment for teaching in-charge – [noun]…
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Beginner

Set a fixed budget for buying clothes

2017年4月7日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like shopping for new clothes? Why or why not? When do you usually buy new clothes? Most people enjoy shopping. It is nice to have new clothes, especially when they are affordable. However, the fun in buying clothes stops when you spend too much and own too many. Marc Bain, a fashion reporter, said that there should be a limit in the amount of money one should spend on clothes. If you set a limit to your budget for clothes, you can save more. Additionally, if you don’t have that many clothes, you can lessen your trash and help save the environment. Vocabulary: shopping [noun] –…
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Beginner

Pedal-style for NZ on 35th America’s Cup

2017年4月7日

Sports - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Can you ride a bike? If yes, when did you learn? Please explain your answer. Have you ever joined a cycling competition? Please explain your answer. For this year’s 35th America’s Cup event in Bermuda, the New Zealand sailors have changed the common paddle-style with pedal-style machine. The idea behind the pedal-style is that the bigger leg muscles will be able to give more power than paddle-style machine. This is the fastest way to keep the boats sail continuously above the water all around the course. Oracle Team USA Jimmy Spithill and former Team NZ Dean Barker — now head of SoftBank Team Japan — have questioned the…
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Beginner

Singapore’s Ministry of Education focuses on student’s aptitude than academic

2017年4月6日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you think education is important? How can education change our future? Singapore’s Ministry of Education will implement an aptitude-based program. This program focuses on students’ natural ability and talents. This is very different from the traditional system, which is academic-based. This program will be applied in the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics, and universities in the country. Vocabulary: implement [verb] – to start using a plan or system aptitude [noun] – a natural ability or skill ability [noun] – skill to do something academic [adjective] – relating to performance in courses of study; relating to schools, colleges, and universities, or connected with studying and thinking, not with practical…
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Beginner