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…
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Intermediate

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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?…
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Intermediate

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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…
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Intermediate

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How to beat burnout: Start from within

2020年11月11日

burnout

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think causes burnout? Do you feel too busy sometimes? In what way? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. burnout /BURN-out/ [noun] – the state of having no energy or enthusiasm because of working too hard, or someone who shows the effects of this state Burnout is quite common among teachers. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot/ [verb] – to be one of the reasons why something happens Working straight for hours contributes to burnout and stress. overcome /oh-ver-KUHM/ [verb] – to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something Overcome our…
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Intermediate

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NASA and Nokia to put a 4G network on the moon’s surface

2020年11月9日

moon-walk-60616_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What latest do you know about the moon? What is your idea of 4G network? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. annoying /uh-NOI-ing/ [adjective] – making you feel annoyed It’s annoying when we can’t travel on a rainy day. firm /furm/ [noun] – a company or business Romeo has worked in a law firm for 3 years. construct /kuhn-STRUHKT/ [verb] – to build something or put together different parts to form something whole The businessmen will help each other to construct a flood defense operate /OP-uh-reyt/ [verb] – to (cause to)…
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Intermediate

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Diet drinks linked to same heart diseases as the full sugar versions, study suggests

2020年11月6日

sugar-485055_1920

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you eat sweet foods? Do you drink diet soda? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. risk /risk/ [noun] – the possibility of something bad happening Smoking increases the risk of getting many diseases. participate /pahr-TIS-uh-peyt/ [verb] – to take part in or become involved in an activity Teachers encouraged the students to participate in school activities. intake /IN-teyk/ [part of speech] – the amount of a particular substance that is eaten or drunk during a particular time She is very cautious of her calorie…
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Intermediate

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12 year-old boy discovers 69-million-year old dinosaur fossil

2020年11月4日

_114917159_nathananddionhrushkin

© Nature Conservancy of Canada via CNN.com Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What dinosaur species do you know? What images come to your mind when you hear the word dinosaur? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. partly /PAHRT-lee/ [adverb] – to some degree, but not completely What the boy said was partly right. unearth /uhn-URTH/ [verb] – to find something by digging in the ground Ancient tools that are more than 500 years old have been unearthed at the site. institute /IN-sti-toot/ [noun] – an organization where people do a particular type of scientific, educational, or…
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Intermediate

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Two new studies recommend that people with blood type O may have a lower chance of Coronavirus infection other critical illnesses

2020年11月2日

doctor-2346235_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What is your blood type? Do you believe that a person’s blood type protects him/her from any other infection? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. recommend /rek-uh-MEND/ [verb] – to suggest that someone or something would be good or suitable for a particular job or purpose, or to suggest that a particular action should be done Our family doctor recommended cycling as the best all-round exercise. slightly /slahyt-li/ [adverb] – a little My brother is slightly taller than me. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your…
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Intermediate

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Microsoft turns to using cleaner jet fuel to cut down air pollution

2020年10月30日

plane-841441_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you travel by plane? When travelling domestically, do you prefer travelling by plane or by shinkansen? Please tell me more. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. aviation /ey-vee-EY-shuhn/ [noun] – the activity of flying aircraft, or of designing, producing, and keeping them in good condition My father is one of the managers of an aviation company. headquarters /HED-kwawr-terz/ [noun] – the main offices of an organization such as an army, the police, or a business company Please call the main headquarters in Paris immediately. lesser /LES-er/ [adjective] –…
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Intermediate

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From strangers to travel buddies: A lockdown travel story

2020年10月28日

travel

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you travel? Do you like traveling domestically or internationally? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. thwart /thwawrt/ [verb] – to stop something from happening or someone from doing something The government is doing their best to thwart the spread of the virus. chance upon /chans uh-PON/ [phrasal verb] – to find something or meet someone by chance If you chance upon a Japanese dictionary, please let me know. converse /kuhn-VURS/ [verb] – to have a conversation with someone Mark enjoyed the chance to briefly converse with his…
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Intermediate

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