Intermediate

Sashimono: Bringing out the inherent beauty of trees

2022年3月12日

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© Natsuki Nishi via The Mainichi Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What traditional Japanese craft do you like the most? Please tell me more about it. Do you consider yourself a minimalist? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. woodworking /WOOD-wur-king/ [noun] – the activity of making objects such as furniture from wood I took up woodworking and pottery when I was younger. array /uh-REY/ [noun] – a large number of products of a similar type Please feel free to choose from our array of bags. showy /SHOH-ee/ [adjective] – attracting attention, sometimes…
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Intermediate

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Wales to use electric buses to achieve zero-emission by 2035

2022年3月11日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are the benefits of electric cars? Would you like to have an electric car? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. substantial /suhb-STAN-shuhl/ [adjective] – large in size, value, or importance The findings reveal a substantial difference between men’s and women’s perspectives. strategy /SRAT-i-jee/ [noun] – a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war, politics, business, industry, or sports, or the skill of planning for such situations We’re developing new strategies to increase our market share. launch /lawnch/ [verb] – to begin something such…
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Intermediate

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Sony and Honda team up to build and sell electric cars

2022年3月10日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are some popular Sony products in your country right now? How often do you receive car sales brochures/flyers? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. joint /joint/ [adjective] – belonging to or shared between two or more people This is a joint project between the university and the town hall. establish /ih-STAB-lish/ [verb] – to start a company or organization that will continue for a long time They will establish a new organization next year. agreement /uh-GREE-muhnt/ [noun] – a decision or arrangement, often formal and written, between two or more…
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Intermediate

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Several European countries accept Ukrainian refugees

2022年3月9日

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© GETTY IMAGES via BBC News Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you been to a European country? If so, how was it? If not, which nation would you like to visit and why? Do you have a foreign friend? Please tell me more about him or her. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. invasion /in-VEY-zhuhn/ [noun] – an occasion when an army or country uses force to enter and take control of another country They were planning on a full-scale invasion of the north. refugee /ref-yoo-JEE/ [noun] – a person who has escaped from their…
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Intermediate

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Planet orbiting a “white dwarf” star potentially supports life

2022年3月8日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you believe that there is life on other planets? Please elaborate on your answer. Could you give three reasons why Earth is habitable? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. capable /KEY-puh-buhl/ [adjective] – having the ability, power, or qualities to be able to do something I believe your idea is capable to be enhanced. identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] – to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or thing is Even a newborn can identify its mother’s voice. initially /ih-NISH-uh-lee/ [adverb] – at the beginning The…
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Intermediate

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Mud, dirt, and sweat: the true essences of having fun

2022年3月7日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What was your favorite playground/park when you were a child? What did you like about it the most? How do you define “fun” in your own words? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. surroundings /sr-OWN-duhngz/ [noun] – the place where someone lives and the conditions they live in My grandparents used to live in quiet yet beautiful surroundings. urban /UR-buhn/ [adjective] – of or in a city or town People in urban areas make up most of the country’s population. influence /IN-floo-uhns/ [noun] – the power to have an effect on…
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Intermediate

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The suffocating expectation of 24-hour, seven-day-a-week digital accessibility

2022年3月6日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How do you feel when someone has not replied to your text message? How many minutes does it take you to reply to someone’s text message? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. concerned /kuhn-SURND/ [adjective] – worried I’m a little concerned about my mother’s health. respond /ri-SPOND/ [verb] – to say or do something as a reaction to something that has been said or done He responded to every question asked to him. remote /ri-MOHT/ [adjective] – far away in distance Australia is huge and remote from the world’s major population…
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Intermediate

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How to exercise for better balance

2022年3月5日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you encounter exercise/workout videos on the internet? What is physical education like in your country? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. control /kuhn-TROHL/ [noun] – the act of controlling something or someone, or the power to do this He needs better control of the baseball bat. key /kee/ [adjective] – very important and having a lot of influence on other people or things A clear plan is a key factor for success. pattern /PAT-ern/ [noun] – a particular way in which something is done, is organized, or happens…
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Intermediate

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There are more tree species on the planet than we originally predicted

2022年3月4日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you been to a tropical forest before? Could you share something about it? What comes to mind after reading the title of the article? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. species /SPEE-sheez/ [noun] – a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other Mountain gorillas are a rare species in the wild. tropical /TROP-i-kuhl / [adjective] – extremely hot My dream is to live on a tropical island. rely on /ri-LAHY on/ [phrasal verb] – to need…
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Intermediate

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What breakfast looks like in the Philippines

2022年3月3日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What time do you usually wake up in the morning? Which do you prefer, sunny-side-up, scrambled, or boiled egg? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. pantry /PAN-tree/ [noun] – a small room or large cupboard in a house where food is kept Dani spent 2 hours organizing the pantry. typically /TIP-i-klee/ [adverb] – used when you are giving an average or usual example of a particular thing Tickets for these festivals will typically cost around forty dollars. root /root/ [noun] – origins Today, we learned about the roots of French language….
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Intermediate

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