Intermediate

Human-caused activities result to extreme weather conditions

2018年12月26日

landscape-Human-caused activities result to extreme weather conditions

Pre-reading questions: What are the effects of climate change? Give supporting details. Do you think that human-caused activities are the main reasons behind global warming? Explain. Vocabulary: peak /peek/ [verb] to reach the highest point, value, or level Her performance peaked since I last saw her. severity /suh-VER-i-tee/ [noun] the fact or condition of being extremely painful, difficult The severity of the heat during summer can cause heat stroke. human-caused /HYOO-muhn kawst/ [adjective] something that is done or caused by human Heavy street floods are a human-caused disaster because of improper waste disposal. seriously /SEER-uhs-lee/ [adverb] to consider a person, subject, or situation to be important or dangerous and worth…
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Intermediate

Berkhamsted Revisited: surprisingly popular among men

2018年12月24日

Podcast Berkhamsted Revisited

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you have a diary when you were young? What is your unforgettable moment when you were a teenager? Vocabulary: embarrassing /em-BAR-uhs-sing/ [adjective] making you feel shy or ashamed I once fell in front of my classmates and it was so embarrassing! edit /ED-it/ [verb] to make changes to a text or film in order to prepare it You need to edit it first before showing it to others. percentage /per-SEN-tij/ [noun] an amount of something, often expressed as a number out of 100 The percentage of television show ratings are going down. ecstatic /ek-STAT-ik/ [adjective] extremely surprising She was ecstatic when her parents gave her a car…
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Intermediate

1 out of 50 people falls in love on an airplane

2018年12月19日

Airplane-12-19-18

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to travel by airplane? Why or why not? When was your first flight? Vocabulary: interview /IN-ter-vyoo/ [verb] to ask someone questions to get information One of her tasks is to interview applicants. habit /HAB-it/ [noun] something that you do often and regularly I always buy the same brand of shoes out of habit. increase /IN-krees/ [verb] to become larger in amount or size The crime rate in the country is alarmingly increasing. moreover /MAWR-oh-ver/ [adverb] used to add information That was a good deal, moreover, the price was reasonable. interact /in-ter-AKT/ [verb] to communicate with or react to Teachers interacted well with the students. 1…
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Intermediate

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

2018年12月17日

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

Pre-reading questions: Do you like the English language? Is learning English difficult for you? Why or why not? Vocabulary: aim /eym/ [verb] to plan for a specific purpose I aim to become the best writer of this generation. improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] to get better, or to make something better She promised to improve her reading skills. oral /OHR-uhl/ [adjective] spoken; not written They did not do well in their oral presentation. trial /Y-uhl/ [noun] a test, usually over a limited period of time The trial project was opposed by the people. require /ri-KWAHYUHR/ [verb] to order or demand something I require you to always wear your ID when you are…
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Intermediate

The pursuit of a brighter tomorrow

2018年12月12日

The pursuit of a brighter tomorrow

Pre-Reading Questions: What is your favorite book? Why do you like that book? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: diagnose /DHAY-uhg-nohs/ [verb] to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or other problem by making an examination The laboratory examination is to diagnose the cause of the disease. inspire /in-SPAHYUR/ [verb] to fill someone with confidence and desire to do something This unfortunate event inspires me to strive more and achieve my goals. novel /NOV-uhl/ [noun] a long printed story about imaginary characters and events I am currently reading the novel entitled “Into the water” by Paula Hawkins. encourage /en-KUR-ij/ [verb] to make someone more likely to do something…
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Intermediate

Japan offers vacant houses for free

2018年12月11日

Vocabulary Guide critical /KRIT-i-KUHL/ [adjective] – someone or something is in bad situation abandon /uh-BAN-duhn/ [verb] – to completely leave a place or someone rural /ROOR-uhl/ [adjective] – countryside; located outside cities vanish /VAN-ish/ [verb] – to disappear Vocabulary Check Fill in the blanks with the correct words. Choose the correct answer in the box. rural vacant vanish critical abandoned The couple’s house is in _______ condition. The house in front of ours has been _________ for years. Her grandparents live in one of the _______ places of our country. After selling her house, she just _________ and never came back. Article Reading Read the passage and take note of…
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Intermediate

Dreaming of studying abroad? Consider the facts first

2018年12月10日

Dreaming of studying abroad consider the facts first

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like to study abroad? Why or why not? Do you like traveling? Why or why not? Vocabulary: knowledge /NOL-ij/ [noun] awareness, understanding, or information that has been obtained by experience or study I have knowledge of Japanese but can’t speak fluently. culture /KUHL-cher/ [noun] the way of life especially the general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people I am interested to learn more about Japanese culture. consider /kuhn-SID-er/ [verb] to spend time thinking about a possibility My wife and I are considering adopting a child. quality /KWOL-i-tee/ [adjective] of a high standard They offer quality service at a reasonable price. primary /PRAHY-mer-ee/ [adjective]…
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Intermediate

Thailand’s tallest building lets tourists walk on frightening glass floor

2018年12月5日

Pre-reading Questions Answer the following questions about the topic. Please explain your answer. Do you like trying extreme activities? Why? Why not? What things or situations are you afraid of? Article Reading Read the passage and take note of the highlighted words in the Vocabulary Guide. A terrifying experience awaits tourists in Bangkok. Situated at the top of King Power Mahanakhon, Thailand’s tallest completed building, is the new Mahanakhon SkyWalk. It offers a thrilling walk on a large glass floor that makes people afraid yet excited. The Mahanakhon Skywalk has an indoor deck where people who are too terrified to walk on the glass can have a 360-degree view of…
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Intermediate

First woman to qualify as a fighter jet pilot in Japan

2018年12月5日

Fighter jet woman Japan

Pre-reading questions: What are your thoughts about a female pilot? Do you like traveling by airplane? Why or why not? Vocabulary: successful /suhk-SES-fuhl/ [adjective] having achieved a lot, become popular, and/or made a lot of money My classmate in college is now a successful career woman. overcome /oh-ver-KUHM/ [verb] to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something I want you to overcome your problem in your research study. path /path/ [noun] a set of actions, especially ones that lead to a goal or result The path to a successful life is to stay humble. assign /uh-SAYN/ [verb] to give a particular job or piece of work to someone…
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Intermediate

Families from South and North Korea meet after decades

2018年12月3日

Families from South and North Korea finally met

Pre-reading questions: Do you want to visit Korea? Why or why not? What is your opinion about the conflict between North and South Korea? Vocabulary: separation /sep-uh-REY-shuhn/ [noun] a situation in which two or more people or things are separated Separation is the time of high emotional stress. embrace /em-BREYS/ [verb] to hold someone close to you with your arms to express affection She greeted her daughter and embraced her tightly. reminisce /rem-uh-NIS/ [verb] to talk or write about past experiences that you remember She likes to reminisce about her years in high school. get-together /GET-tuh-geth-er/ [noun] a gathering of people, esp. for enjoyment She attended a family get-together last…
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Intermediate