Intermediate

Cape Town to limit water usage in water crisis

2018年3月23日

Cape Town to limit water usage in water crisis

Pre-reading questions: How do you save water in your country? Have you experienced a water crisis in your country? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: drought /drout/ [noun] a long period when there is little or no rain The crops were destroyed because of the drought. consumption /kuh n-SUHMP-shuhn/ [noun] an amount of something that is used Gas and oil consumption always increases in cold weather. recycle /ree-SAHY-kuhl/ [verb] to use something again, often for a different purpose Recycling is important to help protect our environment. precaution /pri-KAW-shuhn/ [noun] an action taken to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous I took the precaution of buying a case for my new cellphone. dread…
Read more

Intermediate

The Royal Family talks about mental health

2018年3月23日

800px-British_Royal_family

Pre-reading questions: What do you think is the importance of mental health? How can we take good care of our mental health? Vocabulary: advocate [AD-vuh-kit] (noun) someone who supports a policy or cause Kate is an advocate for the environment. fatal [FEYT-l] (adjective) causing death The fatal accident caused panic among the students. candidly [KAN-did-li] (adverb) in an honest way She delivered her speech candidly. veteran [VET-er-uh-n] (noun) a person who has served in a military force My grandfather is a war veteran. patron [PEY-truh-n] (noun) a person who supports a charity or cause Mary is a known patron of social change. Britain’s Royal Family are known advocates of various…
Read more

Intermediate

Eating may not be effective in blocking stress

2018年3月21日

stress

Pre-reading questions: How does stress affect your eating habits? What do you do to cope with stress? Vocabulary: cope [KOHP] (verb) to deal with problems She was able to cope because of her friends’ support. variety [vuh-RAHY-i-tee] (noun) many different types or things I made a variety of desserts yesterday. disadvantage [dis-uh d-VAN-tij] (noun) something that leads to unsuccessful results There are disadvantages to living in a city. prevent [pri-VENT] (verb) to stop something from happening The trees on the mountains prevent floods downtown. survive [ser-VAHYV] (verb) to continue to live He survived the earthquake ten years ago. Stress affects people’s lives in many ways. Others cope with stress by…
Read more

Intermediate

Fashionable masking tapes, a hit for creative customers

2018年3月20日

satin-ribbons-1939929_960_720

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to follow trends? Please explain your answer. What trends is your hometown famous for? Vocabulary: trend [trend] (noun) something that becomes accepted or fashionable She teaches the latest trends in modern dance. patron [PEY-truhn] (noun) a regular customer of a store, restaurant, hotel, etc., This parking lot is reserved for patrons only. subtle [SUHT-l] (adjective) not bright or noticeable I detected a subtle change in his attitude towards us. tone [tohn] (noun) the general style of something I like the movie because of its dark tone. profitable [PROF-i-tuh-buhl] (adjective) resulting in financial profit Some of their new electronic products are highly profitable. A special kind…
Read more

Intermediate

Japanese children’s dream jobs

2018年3月15日

chibi-2380489_1280

Pre-reading questions: What is/was your dream job? Why? What do you think is the most important job? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: probe [prohb] (verb) to search into or examine something The detectives probed the crime scene carefully. instructive [in-STRUHK-tiv] (adjective) related to school or research The young genius chose an instructive career to make good use of her intelligence. on the contrary [KON-trer-ee] (idiom) a fact or opinion that is the opposite of one already stated She is lying; on the contrary, she is really guilty of the crime! consecutive [kuhn-SEK-yuh-tiv] (adjective) following one after another without an interruption The teacher has been sick for 5 consecutive days already….
Read more

Intermediate

Netflix’s growth goes beyond target

2018年3月9日

dues-2731627_1920

Pre-reading questions: What do you usually do on the Internet? What are the kinds of movies that you like to watch? Vocabulary: attain [uh-TEYN] (verb) – to achieve something after a lot of work The goal of ancient philosophers was to attain wisdom. surpass [ser-PAS] (verb) – to be greater than Through hard work, I was able to surpass my previous high scores. exceed [ik-SEED] (verb) – to go beyond in amount The young director’s new movie exceeded the audience’s expectations. fuel [FYOO-uh-l] (verb) – to increase something Poverty in the country is fueled by the recent tax reform. strategy [STRAT-i-jee] (noun) – a plan that you use to achieve…
Read more

Intermediate

Twitter begins “Advertising Transparency Center”

2018年3月2日

technology

Pre-reading questions: What social media platforms do you enjoy using? What are the good points of using social media? Vocabulary: scrutiny [noun] – careful examination of someone The council members were under scrutiny by the government. inappropriate [adjective] – not right for a situation Her inappropriate behavior during dinner was obvious. creatives [noun] – content or material of an advertisement The creatives used in the commercial was effective. interface [noun] – over-all look of an application Facebook’s new interface is easy to use. transparency [noun] – being made aware of what information is being collected Everyone should practice transparency in the office to avoid conflict. Twitter is launching an Advertising…
Read more

Intermediate

Hospital to allow anonymous childbirth

2018年1月19日

Japan - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: How do you feel about mothers abandoning their children? How can the government help abandoned children? Vocabulary: pioneer – one of the first people to do something important The company has been a pioneer in the car industry since 1950. abandon – left without needed care, support and protection The twins were abandoned by their mother. adopt – to take care of someone’s child as your own legally She was adopted at an early age. unwanted – no longer wanted or desired They are attracting unwanted attention from the media. biological parent – someone’s natural father or mother It was her dream to meet her biological parents….
Read more

Intermediate

Steven Tyler opens Janie’s House

2017年12月28日

entertainment

Pre-reading questions: How do you feel about the violence happening around the world? What do you think is the best way to help victims of violence?   Vocabulary: sanctuary – a safe and comfortable place All she wants is the sanctuary her house offers her after a day’s work. downtrodden – treated badly or unfairly This organization aims to help downtrodden women and children. iconic – very famous and well-known His songs are very iconic. movement – a group of people with a particular set of aims The citizens started a movement to change the government. grasp – to understand something He was finding it difficult to grasp what happened…
Read more

Intermediate

China warns borrowers to pay up or be shamed

2017年12月13日

World News - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: What do you think about lending money to your friends or family members? Please explain your answer. What do you think about borrowing money from the bank? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: platform – an opportunity to make your ideas or beliefs known publicly Facebook is a social media platform widely used across the world. screen – to investigate an individual to make sure that he/she is unlikely to cause problems The Human Resource Department screens all applicants thoroughly. credibility – the quality of being believed or trusted The jury had doubts about the credibility of some of the witnesses. debtor – a person, organization, or country that…
Read more

Intermediate