Intermediate

Mediterranean food for a healthier brain

2017年6月22日

Health - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: What unhealthy food do you love to eat? What’s the best food to eat in spring? What foreign cuisine do you like the most? A part of a series of studies on brain health found that a Mediterranean diet of vegetables, fruits and occasional drinking could help maintain a healthy brain as we grow old. The study also found that adding fish to the diet doesn’t make any difference. What the study is certain about is, people who eat more fresh salad and fruits, beans and pasta, and olive oil than junk food lose less brain mass as they get older compared to people who don’t. The study…
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Intermediate

Company introduces ‘snowflake test’ to eliminate whiny millennial applicants

2017年5月18日

Business - I

  Pre-reading questions: How do you feel about taking tests? What do you think about millennials nowadays?   The Silent Partner Marketing released a so-called “snowflake test” to job applicants, with snowflakes being defined as easily offended individuals. Kyle Reyes, CEO of the Silent Partner Marketing, stated that the snowflake test is designed to eliminate applicants who will surely be unsuitable to his company’s culture. Questions include the applicant’s opinion on America, police, and guns. Mr. Reyes also stated that his snowflake test is effective as it successfully eliminated 60% of snowflake job candidates. Because of the test’s popularity and effectivity, other companies would also want to use the snowflake…
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Intermediate

Shrimp considered as part of a healthy diet

2017年5月18日

Health - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you have food allergies? Do you like eating shrimp? What way do you like it to be cooked?   Doctors believed that eating shrimp may lead to heart diseases due to its high levels of cholesterol. However, after years of research, it was found that shrimp is an excellent addition to a well-rounded diet since it contains useful nutrients; making it safer for people with high cholesterol to eat. Shrimp contains minimal saturated fat and trans-fat despite the higher cholesterol levels. Both are considered as factors to increasing bad health cholesterol. Shrimp can also fight signs of aging, creates red blood cells, and even repairs tissues…
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Intermediate

Retiring seniors go on working

2017年5月12日

Japan - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: How long do you think can a person work in a company? Why? At what age do you want to retire? Why? What do you plan to do with your time after retirement? Seniors in Japan usually still work after they retire. A program has been set in place to help seniors land jobs. Economists say that if Japan wants to alleviate its worsening labor shortage, it needs a whole lot more people, like retiring seniors. It is unconventional for seniors to work after retirement. Japan does an inadequate job of employing healthy seniors. People in their senior years can still work. There are still so many things…
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Intermediate

Time Warner merges with AT&T

2017年5月5日

Business - I

  Pre-reading questions: Do you watch television news like CNN? Do you believe in fake news? Please explain your answer. Do you often use your smartphone?   The Time Warner Company and AT&T will merge after the approval of $85.4 billion proposal. Time Warner is the parent company of CNN, HBO, TNT, and others. According to Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, 78% of their shareholders voted in the favor of the merger and 99% of the voters were in favor of the proposal. Although approval from the shareholders are expected; getting the government’s approval would be more challenging. It is stated that the US federal government will review the…
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Intermediate

How North Korea makes its money

2017年5月4日

World News - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: How does your country make money? Do you believe that a country can earn much money by trading goods? Please explain your answer. North Korea is one of the most closed economies in the world but they find ways to earn money out of their people. According to CNN, North Korea’s main source of foreign currency comes from selling tons of coal to China every year. Not only does North Korea export other commodities and basic goods, but the profit they get from selling coal to China can finance their weapons programs as well. Moreover, news reports involving North Korea in hacking financial institutions in 18 countries was…
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Intermediate

Tokyo taxis lowered fare

2017年5月4日

Japan - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: How often do you ride a taxi in a week? Have you ever had a bad taxi ride? How does one become a taxi driver in your country? People in Tokyo who love taking short taxi rides will enjoy the lowered fare. The initial fare for taxis in Tokyo used to be ¥730 for the first two kilometers. The new initial fare for taxis in Tokyo is ¥410 for the first 1.052 kilometers. The new fare system started in the cities of Musashino and Mitaka. An 85-year old Tachikawa resident appreciates this new fare system as this would allow her to move around Tokyo with more ease. She…
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Intermediate

Facebook denies responsible over fake news

2017年4月27日

technology

  Pre-reading questions: Do you use any social media platforms like Facebook? How often? Do read news in social media? Why?   Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said that Facebook is totally against fake news. He said that they are also victims and they do not want them on the site. It’s not easy to figure out which are fake and which are not. Some people are actually calling them fake news only because they totally disagree to them. Hackers and political groups that post and share fake news are the ones responsible for them. These kinds of news have existed on the site for many years now. However, Facebook handles…
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Intermediate

Standford University offers program for older professionals

2017年4月26日

Education - I

  Pre-reading questions: What would you like to be in the future? At what age do people retire in your country?   HP Inc.’s 62-year-old Senior Vice President for laser-jet business unit, Pradeep Jotwani, was ready to end his 28-year career but he’s not ready to retire just yet. Later on, he heard about Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute which is designed for retiring professionals and executives. He enrolled in the program, hoping to explore more in life. Jotwani studied renewable energy, climate change, social venture management, and art history. He may have taught entrepreneurs in India, Myanmar, and Tanzania but he still likes being back in school as a…
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Intermediate

Drug use in sports becoming a crisis

2017年4月25日

Sports - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: If you’re an athlete, how far would you go in order to win a competition? Please explain your answer. If you’re in a competition, would you rather lose and learn or cheat and win? Please explain your answer.   According to UK Anti-Doping (Ukad), the national body responsible for protecting clean sport, there are currently 52 athletes and coaches serving bans. 12% are professional sports men or women; 62% are amateurs, 21% are semi-professional, and 5% are coaches. Out of 186 sanctions handed out across 22 separate sports by Ukad since it formed in 2009, 46% have been rugby union or league players – mainly at amateur…
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Intermediate