Intermediate

Blue whales have returned to South Georgia after 50 years

2020年12月4日

Blue-Whale-Tail

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What is the largest animal you have seen in person? Do you like going to zoos or safaris? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. severely /suh-VEER-lee/ [adverb] – very seriously The accident left the students severely traumatized. decline /dih-KLAHYN/ [verb] – to gradually become less, worse, or lower Danica’s interest in the project declined when she became busy with her part-time job. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot/ [verb] – to give something, especially money, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people Newton’s discoveries contributed a lot…
Read more

Intermediate

,

El Rastro in Madrid reopens after more than 8 months due to COVID-19 threat

2020年12月2日

©Reuters Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Where do you usually buy cheap things? How often do you go shopping at open-space markets? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. security /si-KYOOR-i-tee/ [noun] – protection of a person, building, organization, or country against threats such as crime or attacks by foreign countries The building tightened its security after the robbery incident. throughout /throo-OUT/ [preposition] – in every part, or during the whole period of time James looked throughout the house, but still couldn’t find his wallet. stall /stawl/ [noun] – a large table or a small shop with…
Read more

Intermediate

,

Americans still travel for Thanksgiving despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases

2020年11月30日

airport-2373727_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the last time you traveled? How does your family celebrate a special day? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. mark /mahrk/ [verb] – to show respect for or commemorate Tomorrow’s party will mark their 25th wedding anniversary. exhausted /ig-ZAWS-tid/ [adjective] – extremely tired By the time they reached the location they were already exhausted. leisure /LEE-zher/ [adjective] – relating to the the time when you are free from work or other duties and can relax Most people only have a little amount of leisure time. mount /mount/ [verb] –…
Read more

Intermediate

,

Community noise may affect dementia risk

2020年11月27日

antevasin-nguyen-ccaQyDwMCZ0-unsplash

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you do to remember things? What kind of things do you usually forget? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. neighborhood/NEY-ber-hood / [noun] – the area of a town that surrounds someone’s home, or the people who live in this area Luke’s family lived in a wealthy neighborhood in the north. risk /risk/ [noun] – the possibility of something bad happening Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of getting lung diseases. urban/UR-buhn/ [noun] – of or in a city or town Urban development projects are increasing. impact/IM-pakt/ [noun] – a…
Read more

Intermediate

,

The pandemic is playing with our focus: How do we get rid of it?

2020年11月25日

focus

©Alamy via BBC Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you consider yourself focused on your tasks during this time of the pandemic? Why or why not? Do you prefer working/taking lessons at home or in the office/school? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. hack /hak/ [verb] – to manage to deal successfully with something Is there any way to successfully hack stressful situations? theory /THEE-uh-ree/ [noun] – a formal statement of the rules or principles on which an activity or a subject of study is based Recent research seems to support this theory about improving…
Read more

Intermediate

,

A Turkish-German power couple develops the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

2020年11月23日

laboratory-5722327_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you know about Pfizer/BioNTech? What countries are developing vaccines for coronavirus at the moment? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. efficient /ih-FISH-uhnt/ [adjective] – working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized way Our country needs someone really efficient who can organize and make the economy run smoothly. declare /dih-KLAIR/ [verb] – to announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially They declared their support for the project. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus The…
Read more

Intermediate

,

People who regularly eat chili peppers have reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, study suggests

2020年11月20日

chili-4582270_960_720

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What spices are popular in your country? What kind of food do you usually eat? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. consume /kuhn-SOOM/ [verb] to eat or drink, especially a lot of something Pandas consume 15,000 pounds of bamboo per year. examine /ig-ZAM-in/ [verb] to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them The research examines the effects of prolonged gadget use in children. individual /in-duh-VIJ-oo-uhl/ [noun] a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set…
Read more

Intermediate

,

Pfizer announces its COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective

2020年11月18日

vaccine

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you received any vaccinations? If so, what are they? If not, would you like to have one? How often do you go to the hospital for a medical check-up? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. drugmaker /DRUHG-mey-ker/ [noun] – a drug company My father manages a drugmaker branch in our city. analysis /uh-NAL-uh-sis/ [noun] – the study of something in detail Leah provided an accurate analysis of the current situation. dose /dohs/ [noun] – a measured amount of something such as medicine Make sure to take your daily dose of…
Read more

Intermediate

,

Japan’s Prime Minister starts the aim of zero emissions, a carbon-neutral nation by 2050

2020年11月16日

buildings-217878_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How clean do you think the air that you breathe in is? Do you consider yourself an environmentalist? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. aim /eym/ [verb] – to intend He aims to be a good husband in the future. policy /POL-uh-see/ [adjective] – relating to a set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party What is your country’s policy on immigration?…
Read more

Intermediate

,

Baby Shark becomes YouTube’s most viewed video ever

2020年11月13日

Baby-Shark

© via Pinkfong Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What can you say about the viral video “Baby Shark”? How often do you use YouTube? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. widely /WAHYD-lee/ [adverb] – including a lot of different places, people, subjects, etc. The couple both travelled widely. release /ri-LEES/ [verb] – to make a product, for example a book, available for the public to buy, often with a celebration; launch The new edition of the dictionary will be released by the education minister later this month. label /LEY-buhl/ [noun] – a company that produces goods…
Read more

Intermediate

,