Intermediate

Non-essential shops reopen in Republic of Ireland

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How has the “new normal” affected your daily tasks? What are the activities that the people could not enjoy now because of the lockdown restrictions? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. ease /eez/ [verb] – to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc. Apply cold compress and medication to ease the pain. likely /LAHYK-lee/ [adjective] – If something is likely, it will probably happen or is expected They regard him as a likely candidate for the position. citizen /SIT-uh-zuhn/ [noun] – a person who is a member of a…
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Twitter adds “tip jar” feature to users’ profiles

tip jar

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you use your Twitter account? Have you ever given tip for any type of service? Please tell me more. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. enable /en-EY-buhl/ [verb] – to make someone able to do something, or to make something possible Online dictionaries enable users to look for word definitions easily. third-party /thurd-PAHR-tee/ [adjective] – connected with a third person or organization less directly involved in an activity Be careful using third-party applications. Not all of them are safe to use. accessible /ak-SES-uh-buhl/ [adjective] – possible to approach,…
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A US-based crew fully surveys the world’s deepest shipwreck

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think about scuba diving? What would you like see underwater? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. depth /depth/ [noun] – the distance down either from the top of something to the bottom, or to a distance below the top surface of something The depth of this sea is impossible to be reached. although /awl-THOH/ [conjunction] – despite the fact that He decided to go, although I begged him not to. entire /en-TAHYUHR/ [adjective] – whole or complete, with nothing missing He used his entire time asleep. discover /dih-SKUHV-er/…
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China records slowest population growth in decades

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘population’? What countries with high population do you know? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. pace /peys/ [noun] – the speed at which someone or something moves, or with which something happens or changes The child is observing how the turtle walk in a slow pace. boost /boost/ [verb] – to improve or increase something The shop boosted their profit this month by having weekend sales. priority /prahy-AWR-i-tee/ [noun] – something that is very important and must be dealt with before…
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Have we known burnout wrong? Let’s find out

burnout (2)

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What exhausts you the most? Do you consider yourself burnt out? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. stage /steyj/ [noun] – a part of an activity or a period of development We are already in the final stage of this product’s development. benchmark /BENCH-mahrk/ [noun] – a level of quality that can be used as a standard against which to compare other things They created a new set of benchmarks to check and know the quality of their services. pessimism /PES-uh-miz-uhm/ [noun] – the tendency to see…
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North Korea to boycott the Tokyo Olympics

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the last time you watched an Olympic game? What is your favorite sport? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus They tested her blood for signs of the infection. athlete /ATH-leet/ [noun] – a person who is very good at sports or physical exercise, especially one who competes in organized events He became a professional athlete when he was in high school. disagree /dis-uh-GREE/ [verb] – to not have the…
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Delhi authorities call for help from Indian Armed Forces in its battle against COVID-19 crisis

GETTY IMAGES

©Getty Images Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How do you protect yourself from the coronavirus? How can we strengthen our body’s immune system? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. packed /pakt/ [adjective] – completely full Citrus fruits are packed with Vitamin C. run /ruhn/ [verb] – to be in control of or manage something Mr. Gonzales has been running this company for over ten years. death toll /DETH toll/ [noun] – the number of people who die because of an event such as a war or an accident The typhoon left with a death toll of…
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Singapore and Hong Kong to lift travel ban between the two cities

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you have any plans on traveling to a different country this year? Why or why not? Please share the travel rules in your country. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. transport /TRANS-pawrt/ [noun] – a system of vehicles, such as buses, trains, aircraft, etc. for getting from one place to another The authorities have been developing the city’s transport system for better traffic conditions. depart /dih-PAHRT/ [verb] – to go away from a place, especially on a trip We depart from Manila at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. dependent /dih-PEN-duhnt/ [adjective] –…
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Here’s why you should stop using pets names as passwords

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you know anyone who has been a victim of hacking? What should people do to prevent this from happening? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. companion /kuhm-PAN-yuhn/ [noun] – a person you spend a lot of time with often because you are friends or because you are travelling together Mariana’s dog, Major, has been her constant companion these past three years. risk /risk/ [noun] – the possibility of something bad happening Starting up a new business is always a risk. conduct /kuhn-DUHKT/ [verb] – to organize and perform a particular…
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How “valuable” are gemstones?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What accessories do you like wearing? What was the most expensive accessory you bought? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. unique /yoo-NEEK/ [adjective] – something that is unique, is unusual, or the only one of its type She has a unique way of singing on stage. ancestral /an-SES-truhl/ [adjective] – relating to members of your family from the past My grandmother refused to sell our ancestral house. diplomat /DIP-luh-mat/ [noun] – an official whose job is to represent one country in another, and who usually works in an embassy My dad…
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