Intermediate

Living alone increases the risk of mental health disorders

2019年6月10日

living alone

Pre-reading questions: Which do you prefer, living alone or living with your family? Why? Do you like attending social gatherings? Why or why not? Vocabulary: substantiate /suhb-STAN-shee-eyt/ [verb] to show something to be true, or to support a claim with facts The local government has a lot of evidence to substantiate the allegations of election fraud. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot/ [verb] to be one of the reasons why something happens Immigrants contribute to the increasing population of the country. psychological /sahy-kuh-LOJ-i-kuhl/ [adjective] relating to the human mind and feelings The managers are also after the physical and psychological well-being of their employees. weaken /WEE-kuhn/ [verb] to (cause to) become less strong, powerful,…
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Intermediate

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New device translates thoughts into speech

2019年6月5日

brain

Pre-reading questions: What is the most helpful invention for you? Please explain your answer. How do you think technological advances affect people’s lives? Vocabulary: encode /en-KOHD/ [verb] to put information into a form in which it can be stored, and which can only be read using special technology or knowledge The new manager asked his associates to encode the documents into his Google Drive. vocal /VOH-kuhl/ [adjective] relating to or produced by the voice, either in singing or speaking Ryan Cayabyab is one of the most talented vocal coaches in the Philippines. epileptic /ep-uh-LEP-tik/ [adjective] a very sudden attack of an illness in which someone becomes unconscious or develops violent…
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Intermediate

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The Marie Kondo style of decluttering expenses

2019年6月3日

mariiii

Photo by © AP Photo/Seth Wenig via The Mainichi Pre-Reading Questions: Where do you usually spend your money? Why? Do you keep track of your expenses? Why or why not? Vocabulary: system /SIS-tuhm/ [noun] a way of doing things; a method Romaji is a Japanese writing system using the Latin alphabet. visualize /VIZH-oo-uh-lahyz/ [verb] to imagine something by forming a picture in your mind It’s hard to visualize how this carpet would look in our living room. expense /ik-SPENS/ [noun] something that makes you spend money According to our records, our largest expense this year was our Christmas party celebration. automatically /aw-tuh-MAT-ik-lee/ [adverb] if a machine or device does something…
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Intermediate

Research recommends eating rice to fight obesity

2019年5月29日

rice

Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually eat when you are hungry and why? Is dieting good or bad? Why or why not? Vocabulary: avert /uh-VURT/ [verb] to prevent something bad from happening; avoid She didn’t say a word during the forum to avert any conflict. analysis /uh-NAL-uh-sis/ [noun] the study of something in detail During physical examinations, the employees provide urine and blood for analysis. uncertain /uhn-SUR-tn/ [adjective] unclear, or not sure Paula is still uncertain about working and living abroad. data /DEY-tuh/ [noun] information collected to be examined The data from the election returns was transmitted electronically. decrease /dih-KREES/ [verb] to become less, or to make something become less…
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Intermediate

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Tokyo’s Bunkitsu: A gallery-like bookstore

2019年5月27日

bunkitsu

Photo by © LIBRO PLUS via The Japan Times Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like reading books and magazines? If yes, what kind of books and magazines do you like? If no, can you tell why? Do you like going to art galleries? If yes, please tell me more. If no, why not? Vocabulary: confuse /kuhn-FYOOZ/ [verb] to mix up two separate things or people in your mind, imagining that they are one It’s easy to confuse his song with other songwriters. district /DIS-trikt/ [noun] an area of a country, state, or city that has been given fixed borders for official purposes Someone was responsible for the measures of public health…
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Intermediate

Cherry blossoms attract more foreign tourists

2019年5月22日

cherry blossom

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite season and why? Where do you usually watch cherry blossoms bloom? Vocabulary: cherished /CHER-ishd/ [adjective] bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is important to you The love letters in the old box are her most cherished possessions. attract /uh-TRAKT/ [verb] to pull or draw someone or something towards them, by the qualities they have, especially good ones The idols’ concerts attract a lot of female fans and audiences. management /MAN-ij-muhnt/ [noun] the group of people who control a company or organization The mall’s management allows its customers to bring their pets inside the stores. feature /FEE-cher/ [verb] to…
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Intermediate

The misconception about dietary supplements

2019年5月20日

supppp

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you take multivitamins? Why or why not? What is your daily meal plan? Tell me more about it. Vocabulary: preference /PREF-er-uhns/ [noun] the fact of liking or wanting one thing more than another The manager has his own preference in choosing employees. well-balanced /WEL-BAL-uhnst/ [adjective] a well-balanced group of foods together provide a good range of the things you need to stay healthy Parents should always prepare well-balanced meals for their kids. sufficient /suh-FISH-uhnt/ [adjective] enough for a particular purpose The evidence is not sufficient to convict him. longevity /lon-JEV-i-tee/ [noun] a long life He always makes sure to eat healthy food and have a regular exercise…
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Intermediate

Arata Isozaki wins 2019 Pritzker Prize

2019年5月17日

Arata Isozaki

Photo by © Getty Images via CNN Style Pre-reading questions: What do you want to be in the future? Please elaborate. Is it important to have ambitions? Why or why not? Vocabulary: accomplishment /uh-KOM-plish-muhnt/ [noun] something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work or effort His accomplishments in his 5-year stay in the company are outstanding. major /MEY-jer/ [adjective] very large, important, or powerful They launched a series of major economic programs. facility /fuh-SIL-i-tee/ [noun] a place, especially including buildings, where a particular activity happens The theme park is the region’s most popular tourist facility. host /hohst/ [verb] to provide the space and other things…
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Intermediate

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Japanese company produces high-tech wheelchairs

2019年5月15日

wheelchairs

Photo by © AFP via The Straits Times Pre-reading questions: Do you like sports? Why or why not? Are you interested to watch a Paralympic game? Why or Why not? Vocabulary: create /kree-EYT/ [verb] to make something new I have created a recipe that you will surely like. achieve /UH-cheev/ [verb] to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim A lot of my friends achieved a degree in Computer science. leading /LEE-ding/ [adjective] first or most important Uniliver is still the leading brand in the Philippines. perfectly /PUR-fikt-lee/ [adverb] in a satisfying or entirely no mistakes way My sister’s room was perfectly organized. unknown /uhn-NOHN/ [adjective] not familiar Some…
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Intermediate

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Nagano attempts to keep traditional insect dishes

2019年5月8日

nagano

Photo by © Kyodo via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite food? Why? What unusual food do you want to eat? Why? Vocabulary: order /AWR-der/ [noun] with the aim of achieving something She studies every night in order to pass the entrance examination. tradition /truh-DISH-uhn/ [noun] cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions The art exhibit we attended yesterday reminded me how important our tradition is. preserve /pri-ZURV/ [verb] to keep something from decaying, destroyed or dying I truly believe that we should preserve our natural resources. culture /KUHL-cher/ [noun] the way of life of a particular group of people at a particular time She was…
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Intermediate