Intermediate

Live-action remake of “Mulan” to be streamed on Disney+

2020年8月19日

Mulan

© Disney via BBC Pre-reading questions: What kind of movies do you like watching? How often do you watch movies? Vocabulary: announcement /uh-NOUNS-muhnt/ [noun] – something that someone says officially, giving information about something Based on the announcement, the school festival will be moved to a different date. welcome /WEL-kuhm/ [verb] – to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of Let us welcome our new teacher, Mr. Sasaki. moviegoer /MOO-vee-goh-er/ [noun] – a person who regularly goes to watch films at the cinema My brother Al is a moviegoer. He watches almost every movie in the cinemas. depend on /dih-PEND on/ [phrasal verb] – to be determined or decided…
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Intermediate

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Asian cooks: Cooking up game plans amidst the lockdown

2020年8月17日

street food

Pre-Reading Questions: What is your favorite food? Why? Which do you prefer, eating at a restaurant or eating at home? Why? Vocabulary: gather /GATHER-er/ [verb] – to collect several things, often from different places or people The campaign aims to gather enough food for the typhoon victims. merchant /MUR-chuhnt/ [noun] – a person whose job is to buy and sell products in large amounts, especially by trading with other countries Being a merchant is a difficult job especially in promoting the products. strategy /STRAT-i-jee/ [noun] – a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war, politics, business, industry, or sports, or the skill of planning for such situations:…
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Intermediate

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Meet Gli, Hagia Sophia’s celebrity cat

2020年8月14日

Gli

© hagiasophiacat on Instagram via hagiasofiaturkey.com Pre-Reading Questions: What places have you been to? What would you like to have as a pet? Vocabulary: basilica /buh-SIL-i-kuh/ [noun] –a public building in ancient Rome that was round at one end and had two rows of columns supporting the roof, or a large church with a similar design The king was buried in the Basilica of Saint Denis in northern Paris, where his body stayed until 1793. shelter /SHEL-ter/ [noun] –to protect yourself from bad weather, danger, or attack: The boys took shelter from the storm inside an old truck. sensation /sen-SEY-shuhn/ [noun] –something very exciting or interesting, or something that causes…
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Intermediate

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80,000 tourists begin evacuation from Da Nang, Vietnam

2020年8月12日

c1_1958323

© Reuters via Bangkok Post Pre-reading questions: Have you been travelling for leisure or vacation during the pandemic? Why or why not? What do you do during day offs or holidays in this time of pandemic? Vocabulary: evacuation /ih-vak-yoo-EY-shuhn/ [noun] the act of moving people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe The evacuation for the landslide victims will start today. domestic /duh-MES-tik/ [adjective] relating to a person’s own country Domestic flights are not allowed from today until further notice. extensive /ik-STEN-siv/ [adjective] covering a large area; having a great range The extensive survey in the community started yesterday. spread /spred/ [noun] the development or growth of something so that…
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Intermediate

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Carbon emissions decrease during COVID-19 pandemic

2020年8月10日

weblionews-cleancity

Pre-reading questions: Do you think carbon dioxide is good for the environment? Why or why not? Kindly share the pandemic safety guidelines in Japan. Vocabulary: volume /VOL-yoom/ [noun] the number or amount of something in general The volume of this container is 3 cubic meters. industry /IN-duh-stree/ [noun] the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale, especially in a factory or special area The hotel and casino industries are working hard on improving their images. measure /MEZH-er/ [verb] to discover the exact size or amount of something It is impossible to measure the total amount of money in the bank. circumstance /SUR-kuhm-stans/ [noun] a fact…
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Intermediate

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Kevin Mayer passes over a Disney top job to set off as TikTok CEO

2020年8月7日

Disney

© Photo: Disney via Deadline Pre-reading questions: What live-streaming videos do you like to watch? Why? Do you use the TikTok app? If yes, please tell me more. If no, why not? Vocabulary: contract /KON-trakt/ [noun] – a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself The contract says that all employees are entitled to receive gratitude pay upon resigning at the company. massive /MAS-iv/ [adjective] – very large in size, amount, or number A massive attack brought fear to everyone. dealmaker /DEEL-mey-ker/ [noun] – a person who makes business agreements or arrangements, especially one who is skilled at…
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Intermediate

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Japan way back 10,000 years ago

2020年8月3日

Japan

Pre-Reading Questions: When do you usually wear a kimono? Are you fond of Japanese cuisine? Vocabulary: magnificent /mag-NIF-uh-suhnt/ [adjective] – causing admiration esp. because of an unusual quality such as great size or beauty Shirley’s house has a magnificent view from her bedroom. technique /tek-NEEK/ [noun] –a way of doing an activity that needs skill He learned a new technique to easily pass an exam. abundance /uh-BUHN-duhns/ [noun] –the situation in which there is more than enough of something Armenia’s abundance of grapes creates the largest winery in the world. stronghold /STRAWNG-hohld/ [noun] –a building or position that is strongly defended The structure’s foundation has the best stronghold for earthquakes….
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Intermediate

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Pittsburgh International Airport tests UV robot cleaners to fight COVID-19

2020年7月31日

UV robots

© Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport Pre-reading questions: What electronic devices do you use to clean your house or room? Do you believe that robots were made for a better life? Why or why not? Vocabulary: robot /ROH-buht/ [noun] a machine controlled by a computer that is used to perform jobs automatically Kris said that it was his first time to see a robot, and it was scary. protection /pruh-TEK-shuhn/ [noun] the act of protecting or state of being protected The government agencies will offer better security and protection to keep all the important files safe. potential /puh-TEN-shuhl/ [adjective] the possibility of something developing or happening in a particular way A…
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Intermediate

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An antigen to rapidly detect the novel coronavirus ready to use in Japan

2020年7月27日

antigen

Pre-reading questions: Are you comfortable working/studying at home? Please explain your answer. What do you miss about the normal days? Vocabulary: instantly /IN-stuhnt-lee/ [adverb] – immediately The email was instantly sent after she received the report. conference /KON-fer-uhns/ [noun] – a private and formal meeting between a small number of people She called a conference to give a special announcement. reaction /ree-AK-shuhn/ [noun] – an occasion when two or more substances react with and change each other The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. infection /in-FEK-shuhn/ [noun] – a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus Rosa is…
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Intermediate

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Endangered African black rhinos gradually increase in number

2020年7月24日

rhino

Pre-reading questions: What endangered animals do you know? How can people save animals from extinction? Vocabulary: population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn/ [noun] – all the people or animals of a particular type or group who live in one country, area, or place The population in Metro Manila has increased rapidly in the last 20 years. endangered /en-DEYN-jerd/ [adjective] – animals or plants that may soon not exist because there are very few now alive Conservationists attempt to save endangered animal species. conservation /kon-ser-VEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings Wildlife conservation is important to prevent species from going extinct. decline /dih-KLAYHN/ [noun]…
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Intermediate

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