Intermediate

Gitanjali Rao, Time Magazine’s first ever “Kid of the Year”

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© Time Magazine Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Who is the most successful person you know? What is your biggest goal in life? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. select /si-LEKT/ [verb] – to choose a small number of things, or to choose by making careful decisions Click ‘File’, then select ‘Make a copy’ from the pull-down menu. nominee /nom-uh-NEE/ [noun] – a person who someone has suggested should be considered to do a particular job, take part in an election, receive an honour, etc. I’ve heard that he is a nominee for best director this…
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New synthetic skin can sense actual pain

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you do to relieve physical pain? What was the latest invention you know? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. reaction /ree-AK-shuhn/ [noun] – behavior, a feeling or an action that is a direct result of something else I love to watch people’s reactions when they watch their favorite movies. equal /ee-kwuhl/ [adjective] – to be the same in value or amount as something else One box may look bigger than the other, but in fact they are equal in volume. feature /FEE-cher/ [noun] – a typical quality or an…
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Amazon to market Panorama boxes to companies

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are your thoughts about security cameras in the workplace? What do you think can companies do to secure their employees’ safety? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. adhere /ad-HEER/ [verb] – if you adhere to a rule or agreement, you act in the way that it says you should The staff are advised to adhere to the new safety measures in the office. quality control /KWOL-i-tee kuhn-TROHL/ [noun] – the process of looking at goods when they are being produced to make certain that all the goods are of the…
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‘Pandemic’ declared as 2020’s word of the year by Dictionary.com

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© Dictionary.com Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you know about the coronavirus? What was your reaction when the global pandemic was announced? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. frequent /FREE-kwuhnt/ [adjective] – happening often Mrs. Johnson is a frequent visitor to the ocean park. declare /dih-KLAIR/ [verb] – to announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially Other local government units declared their support for the proposal related / ri-LEY-tid/ [adjective] – connected Unemployment and related issues were discussed in the meeting. context /KON-tekst/ [noun] – the situation within which something exists or happens, and…
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A British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company experiments a four-day workweek in New Zealand

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What famous brands do you know? How many days do you go to work a week? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. implement /IM-pluh-ment/ [verb] – to start a plan or a system Your job is to implement the new protocol. brand /brand/ [noun] – a type of product made by a particular company This isn’t my usual brand of shampoo. schedule /SKEJ-ool/ [noun] – a list of planned activities or things to be done showing the times or dates when they are intended to happen or be done The class…
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Archeologists discover “frozen archive” from Norway’s melted ice patch

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©CNN Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What comes to mind when you hear the word “artifact”? Is it important for us to discover more artifacts? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. artifact /AHR-tuh-fakt/ [noun] – an object, such as a tool, that was made in the past My family and I will go to the local museum to see some artifacts. medieval /mee-dee-EE-vuhl/ [adjective] – related to the Middle Ages (= the period in European history from about AD 600 to AD 1500) Alfred has taken a liking to studying medieval culture….
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Blue whales have returned to South Georgia after 50 years

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What is the largest animal you have seen in person? Do you like going to zoos or safaris? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. severely /suh-VEER-lee/ [adverb] – very seriously The accident left the students severely traumatized. decline /dih-KLAHYN/ [verb] – to gradually become less, worse, or lower Danica’s interest in the project declined when she became busy with her part-time job. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot/ [verb] – to give something, especially money, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people Newton’s discoveries contributed a lot…
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El Rastro in Madrid reopens after more than 8 months due to COVID-19 threat

©Reuters Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Where do you usually buy cheap things? How often do you go shopping at open-space markets? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. security /si-KYOOR-i-tee/ [noun] – protection of a person, building, organization, or country against threats such as crime or attacks by foreign countries The building tightened its security after the robbery incident. throughout /throo-OUT/ [preposition] – in every part, or during the whole period of time James looked throughout the house, but still couldn’t find his wallet. stall /stawl/ [noun] – a large table or a small shop with…
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Americans still travel for Thanksgiving despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the last time you traveled? How does your family celebrate a special day? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. mark /mahrk/ [verb] – to show respect for or commemorate Tomorrow’s party will mark their 25th wedding anniversary. exhausted /ig-ZAWS-tid/ [adjective] – extremely tired By the time they reached the location they were already exhausted. leisure /LEE-zher/ [adjective] – relating to the the time when you are free from work or other duties and can relax Most people only have a little amount of leisure time. mount /mount/ [verb] –…
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Community noise may affect dementia risk

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you do to remember things? What kind of things do you usually forget? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. neighborhood/NEY-ber-hood / [noun] – the area of a town that surrounds someone’s home, or the people who live in this area Luke’s family lived in a wealthy neighborhood in the north. risk /risk/ [noun] – the possibility of something bad happening Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of getting lung diseases. urban/UR-buhn/ [noun] – of or in a city or town Urban development projects are increasing. impact/IM-pakt/ [noun] – a…
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