Beginner

Paris Climate Change Agreement gains approval

2017年1月18日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: What are the effects of climate change? Do you think climate change is really happening?   The Paris Climate Change Agreement was finally approved last November 2016. It was created to battle climate change. The agreement aims to restrict the worldwide temperature that causes global warming. 109 countries promised to control carbon production to fight climate change. Participating countries are expected to implement the agreement on 2017.   Vocabulary: agreement – [noun] an act of agreeing or act of mutual accord approve – [verb] to accept or to agree to restrict – [verb] to confine or to use with limits production – [noun] act of producing implement…
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Beginner

Stolen Yahoo data for sale on dark web

2017年1月17日

Business - B

  Pre-reading questions: What email account do you have (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail)? What engine do you use for searching (Google, Yahoo, Safari, etc.)?   More than one billion Yahoo accounts were hacked last 2013. Yahoo users’ phone numbers, passwords, security questions, and backup email addresses were stolen. It is by far the biggest incident of data stealing. All the information has been for sale on the dark web. But now that many people know about it, the price will become cheaper. Investigation says the group of hackers called Group E stole all the personal information from Yahoo. Group E is based in Eastern Europe. They have also hacked Dropbox, Tumblr,…
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Beginner

Children’s love in a truck

2017年1月16日

Japan - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you love drawing? How do you show your love to your parents?   A project was started by a transportation company in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture. Trucks have drawn pictures displayed outside by the drivers’ children. This is to give emotional support for drivers and to avoid accidents. This idea is now popular and 15 companies have joined the project. So far, there are no reported accidents with those decorated trucks.   Vocabulary: support – [verb] to give help or assistance to someone or something avoid – [verb] to stay away from emotional – [adjective] relating to emotions decorated – [adjective] provided with something to increase beauty…
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Beginner

Experts urge malnutrition be cured to prevent health catastrophe

2017年1月13日

Health - Beg

  Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite food? Do you know that there unhealthy kinds of food?   Malnutrition is being underweight or overweight. It affects a third of the world’s population. People who do not exercise and have poor diet are at risk. Middle income countries suffer more from malnutrition. Experts say that governments must do something to prevent it. Nutrition is a public issue and state responsibility. Governments should give more funds to grow healthy foods. They should also educate consumers about healthy living.   Vocabulary: malnutrition – [noun] the unhealthy condition that results from not eating enough food or not eating healthy food underweight – [adjective] weighing…
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Beginner

Panda twins in Atlanta zoo get names

2017年1月12日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Have you been to the zoo? What is your favorite animal?   Zoo Atlanta’s 100-day old panda twins received their names last Monday, December 12, 2016. The twins will be called Ya Lun and Xi Lun. These duo are the 6th and 7th offspring of their parents. Their names are chosen by public voting. Ya Lun and Xi Lun are going to be shown in public on January.   Vocabulary: receive – [verb] get something duo – [noun] two items of the same kind offspring – [noun] an animal’s young chosen – [verb] one who is the object of choice ; who is given preference public –…
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Beginner

Schools for young offenders instead of jails

2017年1月9日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: What is a safe place? Do you think there are bad people? Justice Secretary Liz Truss plans to send young offenders to schools instead of jails. The government wants them to study so that they will not do bad things anymore. Young offenders will study basic subjects such as English and Math. They will also be taught to work so that they can have a good life. Vocabulary: offender- [noun] a person who breaks the law jail- [noun] a place where a person who breaks the law is sent basic- [adjective] simple True or False: Liz Truss is a Justice Secretary. Justice Secretary Liz Truss plans to send…
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Beginner

New York SantaCon

2017年1月6日

World News - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child? Do you attend any special gathering during Christmas season? Is Christmas more exciting than New Year’s? An annual Christmas event invited all alcohol-loving people to SantaCon. It is a parade of drunk Santas, reindeer and snowmen. Those who joined happily toured at some of the best bars in NYC. The said event took place last December 10. Most of the bars that participated are in the East Village and Midtown of New York City. This is one of the most-awaited NYC events every December. Vocabulary: annual – [adjective] once-a-year parade – [noun] a public walk especially when…
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Beginner

Even mild smoking can cause early death

2016年12月27日

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you smoke? Do you have friends who smoke? Are people allowed to smoke in restaurants in your country?   A new study says smoking one cigarette a day can cause a person to die young. People who seldom smoke have a 64 percent chance of dying earlier than those who do not smoke. People who smoke up to 10 cigarettes a day have an 87 percent chance of dying early. Most respondents thought seldom smoking cannot harm them. But, the research shows that smoking, seldom or often, is not safe at all.   Vocabulary: seldom – [adverb] in few instances respondent – [noun] a person who gives…
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Beginner

Labor shortage

2016年12月23日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Name 3 most popular jobs in your country. What is the ideal age for a person to work? What is the ideal age for retirement?   Japan’s population is decreasing and aging. It causes labor problems. Hotels, restaurants and elderly care industries need more workers. These industries have low output per worker.  They cannot give higher pay without productivity. Service businesses are also having problems. They have many part-time and contractual employees. The labor market is not doing good.   Vocabulary: aging – [noun] the process of growing and maturing industries – [noun] any general business activity output – [noun] an amount produced at the time productivity – [noun]…
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Beginner

University of Oxford ranked best in the world

2016年12月23日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: What do/did you want to be when you grow up? What do/did you like most about your school/university?   A magazine named Times Higher Education announced that University of Oxford is the best in the world. The magazine checked the universities based on teaching, research, knowledge, and international impact. The University of Oxford ranked first because they improved their research facility. California  Institute of Technology ranked second this year.   Vocabulary: impact – [noun] influence; effect improve – [verb] to bring into more desirable or excellent condition. facility – [noun] something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service. rank – [verb]…
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Beginner