Intermediate

Benefits of taking notes the old-fashioned way: Pen and paper

2020年9月25日

handwriting

Pre-reading questions: Do you save all your notes on your computer? Why or why not? When do you usually take notes on paper? Vocabulary: spot /spot/ [verb] – to see or notice someone or something Claire was able to easily spot the error in the material. external /ik-STUR-nl/ [adjective] – of, on, for, or coming from the outside You should buy an external hard drive for your computer. paraphrasing /par-uh-FREYZ-ing/ [noun] – using a person’s own words to express someone else’s messages or ideas Paraphrasing is a must when rewriting articles to avoid copying. visual /VIZH-oo-uhl/ [adjective] – relating to seeing Visual learners process information they can see better than…
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Intermediate

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No vaccines to be distributed unless proven safe and effective, UN says

2020年9月23日

vaccine

Pre-reading questions: Have you been vaccinated? If so, for what disease? If not, would you try it? What do you do to stay healthy? Vocabulary: press conference /pres KON-fer-uhns/ [noun] – a meeting at which a person or organization makes a public statement and reporters can ask questions The prime minister will hold a press conference this Monday. distribute /dih-STRIB-yoot/ [verb] – to give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something Kindly distribute the test papers to your classmates. authorization /aw-ther-uh-ZEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the action of giving someone official permission for something We were given authorization to use the meeting room this afternoon. otherwise /UHTH-er-wahyz/ [conjunction]…
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Intermediate

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Experts discover the cleanest air on Earth

2020年9月21日

antarctica-2680626_1920

Pre-reading questions: What kind of weather do you like the most? Do you want to visit Antarctica? Why or why not? Vocabulary: identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] — to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or thing is Police will have the pictures enlarged in an attempt to identify the thief crisis /KRAHY-sis/ [noun] — a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering The rise and fall of prices caused a financial crisis. investigate /in-VES-ti-geyt/ [verb] — to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially to discover the truth I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate. origin /AWR-i-jin/ [noun] — the beginning…
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Intermediate

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Postcards to save Beirut’s fragile beauties

2020年9月18日

beirut

© Joseph Khoury Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually take pictures of? Do you still use postcards? Why or why not? Vocabulary: neighborhood /NEY-ber-hood/ [noun] – the area of a town that surrounds someone’s home, or the people who live in this area I recommend you to visit the two famous supermarkets in this neighborhood. highlight /HAHY-lahyt/ [verb] – to attract attention or to emphasize something important The entire program highlights the importance of the English language. raw /raw/ [adjective] – in a natural state From here, you can see the raw structure of the building. demolish /dih-MOL-ish/ [verb] – to completely destroy buildings or other structures The old buildings…
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Intermediate

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Rare breed of singing dogs, found again in the wild after 50 years

2020年9月16日

200831135933-singing-dog-exlarge-169

© New Guinea Highland Wild dog foundation via: CNN Pre-reading questions: How often do you go to zoos? If you were to choose what kind of animal you would be, what is it and why? Vocabulary: expedition /ek-spi-DISH-uhn/ [noun] ⁠— an organized journey for a particular purpose The team prepared themselves for the expedition ancestor /AN-ses-ter/ [noun] ⁠— a plant, animal, or object that is related to one existing at a later point in time These species share a common ancestor. highland /HAHY-luhnd/ [noun] ⁠— in or relating to an area with mountains or hills Their grandparents were born and raised in the highlands. unique /yoo-NEEK/ [adjective] ⁠— being the…
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Intermediate

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How can workers travel back to work after lockdown?

2020年9月14日

bennett-tobias-if6UNPGc1ww-unsplash

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you take a cab at all times? Why or why not? What do you usually ride when going to places? Vocabulary: route /root/ [noun] ⁠— a particular way or direction between places Passengers nowadays will have to take different routes due to lockdown. rush hour /ruhsh OU-er/ [noun] ⁠— the busy part of the day when towns and cities are crowded, either in the morning when people are travelling to work, or in the evening when people are travelling home It would be best to avoid rush hours when coming home from the mall. banned /band/ [adjective] ⁠— prohibited, not allowed Liquids more than 100 ml are…
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Intermediate

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Energy-storing bricks: A new renewable energy potential

2020年9月11日

200810125524-02-smart-bricks-energy-storage-solution-green-buildings-exlarge-169

© The D’Arcy Laboratory in Washington via CNN Pre-reading questions: How do you save energy at home? What types of energy are popular in your country? Vocabulary: expert /EK-spurt/ [noun] — a person with a high level of knowledge or skill relating to a particular subject or activity They claimed that the experts have discovered the vaccine for the novel coronavirus. standard /STAN-derd/ [adjective] — usual rather than special, especially when thought of as being correct or acceptable Could you tell me the standard procedures? strength /strengkth/ [noun] — the ability to do things that need a lot of physical or mental effort The poor animal didn’t even have the…
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Intermediate

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Underwater Italian village to possibly resurface after 27 years

2020年9月7日

underwater

© Romano Cagnoni/Hulton Archive/Getty Images via CNN Pre-reading questions: What is your opinion about Italy? Are you interested in visiting a “ghost town”? Why or why not? Vocabulary: resurface /ree-SUR-fis/ [verb] — to rise to the surface of the water again Rumor has it that the underwater village will resurface next year. underwater /UHN-der-WOT-er/ [adjective] — under the surface of water The machine is capable of working even underwater. man-made /MAN-MEYD/ [adjective] — produced or developed by humans rather than coming directly from nature There are many man-made lakes around my city. promote /pruh-MOHT/ [verb] — to encourage the existence or development of something We should focus on promoting the…
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Intermediate

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BTS smashes YouTube records with their newest video, Dynamite

2020年9月4日

BTS_Dynamite

© BigHit Entertainment Pre-reading questions: Who is your favorite foreign artist and why? How often do you listen to YouTube? Vocabulary: simultaneously /sahy-muhl-TEY-nee-uhs-lee/ [adverb] – in a way that is simultaneous (happening or being done at exactly the same time) The students started their projects simultaneously. icon /AHY-kon/ [noun] – a very famous person or thing considered as representing a set of beliefs or a way of life Muhammad Ali is a boxing icon. breakthrough /BREYK-throo/ [noun] – an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem The new vaccine against COVID-19 is a breakthrough in medicine. single /SING-guhl/ [noun] –…
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Intermediate

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Tips on sharing food safely during the pandemic

2020年8月31日

food-delivery

Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually order online? Which do you prefer, cooking your own food or buying meals from the store? Vocabulary: tasty /TEY-stee/ [adjective] – (of food) producing a pleasant flavor and feeling in the mouth when eaten The pasta we had in the new Italian restaurant was really tasty! stew /stoo/ [noun] – a type of food consisting usually of meat or fish and vegetables cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid Jinnie cooked this beef stew for me. furthermore /FUR-ther-mohr/ [adverb] – in addition They don’t like to live there because it’s far from their workplace. Furthermore, the area always gets flooded. surface /SUR-fis/ [noun…
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Intermediate

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