Intermediate

Is the two-meter rule enough for social distancing?

2 meter

Pre-Reading Questions: What images come to your mind when you hear the word “virus”? Has your daily routine changed because of COVID19? Vocabulary: whether /HWETH-er/ [conjunction] – (used to refer to one or more possibilities or to express uncertainty) if Jin is still unsure whether to pursue his acting career or not. proven /PROOV-en/ [adjective] – shown to be true The claims are not yet scientifically proven. necessary /NES-uh-ser-ee/ [adjective] – needed in order to achieve a particular result It took us a month to gather all the necessary materials. order /AWR-der/ [verb] – if a person in authority orders someone to do something, or orders something to be done,…
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Three healthy ways to keep an active lifestyle

lifestyle

Pre-Reading Questions: How do you keep yourself healthy? What healthy food do you usually eat? Vocabulary: phase /feyz/ [noun] – any stage in a series of events or in a process of development Joey improves a lot when it comes to decision making after he got married and started a new phase in his life. decline /dih-KLAHYN/ [verb] – to gradually become less, worse, or lower The company’s profit continues to decline because of the outbreak that has been happening for months. maintain /meyn-TEYN/ [verb] – to continue to have; to keep in existence, or not allow to become less Mary exercises everyday to maintain her good health. ensure /en-SHOOR/…
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Global tourism’s reopening plan

tourism

Pre-reading questions: Why do you think people like traveling? What do you like about your country’s tourist destinations? Vocabulary: recover /ri-KUHV-er/ [verb] – to become normal again from being damaged or having problems The economy is at last beginning to recover. worldwide /WURLD-WAHYD/ [adverb] – extending or spread throughout the world The story has attracted attention worldwide. assist /us-SIST/ [verb] – to help The family decided to assist me with my chores. lay-off /ley awf/ [verb] – to stop employing someone, usually because there is no work for them to do The workforce has been laid off due to the pandemic. optimistic /op-tuh-MIS-tik/ [adjective] – hoping or believing that good…
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Black hole: A celestial body near us

black hole

Pre-Reading Questions: Are you interested in learning space explorations? Why or why not? What do you think are black holes? Vocabulary: astonishing /uh-STON-i-shing/ [adjective] very surprising It was the beginning of an astonishing 12-year friendship. creation /kree-EY-shuhn/ [noun] the act of creating something, or the thing that is created She had been with the company since its creation in 1990. identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or thing is Police will have the pictures enlarged in an attempt to identify the thief. movement /MOOV-muhnt/ [noun]a change of position There will be no movement of cars on the road this…
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Are you feeling groggy from this lockdown? Find out why!

groggy

Pre-Reading Questions: What time do you usually sleep at night? What are the things that make you sleepy? Vocabulary: rapidly /RAP-idly/ [adverb] in a fast or sudden way Her proficiency in English rapidly improved. circumstance /SUR-kuhm-stans/ [noun] an event or condition connected with what is happening or has happened We must adapt our plan to these new circumstances. routine /roo-TEEN/ [noun] a usual or fixed way of doing things Routine exercise is great for your health. adequate /AD-i-kwit/ [adjective] enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose This paper should be adequate for your project. ensure /en-SHOOR/ [verb] to make something certain to happen This medicine will ensure you a good…
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The Irish return the favor to Native Americans through donations

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Pre-reading questions: Do you donate to charities? Why or why not? How often do you return favors? Vocabulary: fundraiser /FUHND-rey-zer/ [noun] – a person or event involved in collecting money for a particular purpose, especially a charity Miyuki started a fundraiser for her little brother’s medication. organizer /AWR-guh-nahy-zer/ [noun] – the person or group who plans and arranges an event or activity The event organizer handled the birthday party quite well. estimated /ES-tuh-mey-ted/ [adjective] – roughly calculated or approximate According to the report, it’ll take an estimated period of five months before we finish the project. favor /FEY-ver/ [noun] – a kind action that you do for someone No need…
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Work and safety during the pandemic: What can offices do?

thermal cam2

Pre-Reading Questions: How often do you go inside buildings? Do you think technology can keep us safe? Why or why not? Vocabulary: policy /POL-uh-see/ [noun] 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 When will the new no-smoking policy be implemented? conform /kuhn-FAWRM/ [verb] to obey a rule or reach the necessary stated standard All employees are expected to conform to the company’s rules. arrangement /uh-REYNJ-muhnt/ [noun] a group of objects that have been put in a particular order or position The flower arrangement Hana gave me was beautiful. device /dih-VAHYS/ [noun] an…
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COE says, “Olympic athletes back into the competition… Only when it is safe”

olympic

Pre-reading questions: Do you agree to cancel the Olympic Games? Explain your answer. What can you say about the Olympic Games being postponed? Vocabulary: concern /kuhn-SURN/ [verb] a worried or nervous feeling about something, or something that makes you feel worried The company postponed its monthly event for they are concerned about their employees status. manage /MAN-ij/ [verb] to succeed in doing something, esp. something difficult He was not able to manage the misunderstandings within his team. remedy /REM-i-dee/ [noun] a successful way of curing an illness or dealing with a problem or difficulty Sleeping is the best remedy for headaches. constantly /KAAN-stuhnt-lee/ [adverb] all the time or often They…
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Recovering from the coronavirus: How long does it take?

coronavirus-5028573_960_720

Pre-Reading Questions: Have you ever gone to the hospital because of a serious health problem? What do you usually eat when you are sick? Vocabulary: heal /heel/ [verb] to make or become well again, especially after a cut or other injury His lip had begun to heal, but signs of a burn remained. symptom /SIMP-tuhm/ [noun] any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease No one could tell why the girl felt bad before her symptom of extreme morning pain was exposed. average /AV-er-ij/ [noun] a standard or level that is considered to be typical or usual I work an average of…
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Four significant factors to strengthen the immune system

stress3

Pre-Reading Questions: Is everyday exercise important? Why or why not? What comes to your mind when you hear the word health? Vocabulary: strengthen /STRENGK-thuhn/ [verb] to make something stronger or more effective, or to become stronger or more effective Attending voice lessons strengthened her talent and allowed her to join the International Singing Contest. adequate /AD-i-kwit/ [adjective] enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose The donation of foods from other countries was adequate to support 2,000 families. risk /risk/ [noun] the possibility of something bad happening There’s a high risk of infection in the area near the university. essential /uh-SEN-shuhl/ [adjective] necessary or needed The most essential thing to be…
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