Beginner

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like going to tea houses or coffee shops? Why? Have you ever visited a Chinese tea house? A tea house is a place where people can get refreshments and pastries or even play a chess game. It started in Qing dynasty many years ago. They built tea houses in Chengdu, China as a place for relaxation or just to pass the time. However, it is now under threat because of the new cafes rising all over China. Modern Chinese people prefer new cafes such as Starbucks and Seattle’s best over traditional tea houses. Vocabulary: refreshment – [noun] a light snack or drink pastry – [noun] sweet…
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Beginner

University entrance examinations across Japan

2017年2月1日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Are college entrance examinations in Japan difficult? What is the best way to prepare for an examination? High school students and graduates recently took college entrance examinations in Japan. The test was held at 691 sites. It ended last Sunday, January 15. Some exam sites had to reschedule the examination because of bad weather. Seventy-nine of the examinees who arrived late will be allowed to retake the test. There were 12 students who were caught cheating by using smartphones or calculators. Vocabulary: examination – [noun] test; a formal test of a person’s knowledge reschedule – [verb] change the date and time of an event examinee – [noun] a…
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Beginner

McDonald’s sells off over 2,000 outlets in China, HK

2017年2月1日

Business - B

  Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Do you like burgers and fries?   McDonald’s lets Chinese businessmen control 80% of its business. China’s Citic group and US’s Carlyle group will manage 2,000 McDonald’s outlets in China and Hongkong. After five years, the food company will add more restaurants in China, Hongkong, and South Korea. McDonald’s competitor in Asia, Yum Brands, is also coming up with new business strategies. Yum Brands is the owner of KFC and Pizza Hut. Both McDonald’s and Yum brands are trying to solve food safety problems in Asia, specifically, China.   Vocabulary: businessmen – [noun] people in business especially as owners or…
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Beginner

Tornadoes kill 18 in southern US

2017年1月30日

World News - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Have you seen a tornado? What do you think causes a tornado? The states of Georgia and Mississippi were hit by powerful tornadoes. The tornadoes caused by severe weateher killed 18 people and injured at least 50 people. The tornadoes damaged homes, cars, and trees. Some people stayed in buildings which were still standing after the tornado. The government told its people to stay safe in a strong building. Vocabulary: powerful- [adjective] strong tornado- [noun] whirlwind injured- [verb] hurt damage- [verb] break government- [noun] the management or control of a political power True or False: The state of Chicago was hit by powerful tornadoes. The tornadoes killed 50…
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Beginner

Rural areas offer good life

2017年1月27日

Japan - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Where is your hometown? Do you like your hometown? Why? Would you rather see mountains or buildings?   Some people want to live peacefully. They want to live in a private place. People want to benefit in slow living away from the city life. Some people say they are satisfied with their current life. Now, most retired people are moving to rural areas.   Vocabulary: private – [adjective] for the use of a single person or group city life – [noun] a life that’s experienced in the city retired – [adjective] not working anymore living away – [verb] to live away from home   True or False:…
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Beginner

New NTT West Corp. job interview program

2017年1月25日

Education - B

  Pre-reading questions: Have you ever attended to a job interview? Are job interviews important? Why?   The NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) West Corp. made a program at Kansai University. The program examined students’ practice job interviews. Kansai University worked on their first interviews with 17 students last August and September. The results shows that the interviewers like students who answered smoothly. But for unexpected questions, the interviewers gave higher score to students who answered with smiles.   Vocabulary: examine – [verb] test pulse – [noun] beat interviewee – [noun] one who is interviewed; respondent interviwer – [noun] one who asked questions unexpected – [adjective] sudden   True or…
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Beginner

Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home reopens to public

2017年1月23日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Do you know Martin Luther King Jr.? Do you know any historic site?   Atlanta, Georgia – After series of repairs, Martin Luther King’s home re-opened on a holiday dedicated to him. Their home became a museum after his assassination in 1968. People can now get a peek inside the first floor of the historical house. It’s second floor still needs repairs. It has been closed for 5 months for renovation.   Vocabulary: series – [noun] a group or number of related events etc. dedicated – [adjective] wholly committed to something museum – [noun] a building or a place where works of art, scientific specimen, and other…
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Beginner

Miyagi school opens to public after the great 2011 tsunami attack

2017年1月19日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you know other countries aside from Japan that got struck by a tsunami? Which part of Japan was hit by a tsunami back in 2011?   A school in Miyagi prefecture opened to the public for the first time after the tsunami attack in 2011. 135 people visited the old buildings last Dec.03. It was the last time people could see the buildings before clean-up work begins. All damaged buildings will be removed. But the four-story south building will open as a disaster monument in 2018.   Vocabulary: public – [noun] ordinary people; the community clean-up – [phrasal verb] make things or an area clean damage…
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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