Intermediate

The pandemic is playing with our focus: How do we get rid of it?

2020年11月25日

focus

©Alamy via BBC Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you consider yourself focused on your tasks during this time of the pandemic? Why or why not? Do you prefer working/taking lessons at home or in the office/school? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. hack /hak/ [verb] – to manage to deal successfully with something Is there any way to successfully hack stressful situations? theory /THEE-uh-ree/ [noun] – a formal statement of the rules or principles on which an activity or a subject of study is based Recent research seems to support this theory about improving…
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Intermediate

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A Turkish-German power couple develops the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

2020年11月23日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you know about Pfizer/BioNTech? What countries are developing vaccines for coronavirus at the moment? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. efficient /ih-FISH-uhnt/ [adjective] – working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized way Our country needs someone really efficient who can organize and make the economy run smoothly. declare /dih-KLAIR/ [verb] – to announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially They declared their support for the project. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus The…
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Intermediate

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People who regularly eat chili peppers have reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, study suggests

2020年11月20日

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What spices are popular in your country? What kind of food do you usually eat? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. consume /kuhn-SOOM/ [verb] to eat or drink, especially a lot of something Pandas consume 15,000 pounds of bamboo per year. examine /ig-ZAM-in/ [verb] to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them The research examines the effects of prolonged gadget use in children. individual /in-duh-VIJ-oo-uhl/ [noun] a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set…
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Intermediate

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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

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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

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© 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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