Intermediate

Former Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara retires

2019年6月26日

euh

Photo by © KYODO via The Mainichi Pre-reading questions: Do you like baseball? Why or why not? What kind of sport do you like the least and why? Vocabulary: professional /pruh-FESH-uh-nl/ [adjective] used to describe someone who does a job that people usually do as a hobby Kisenosato Yutaka was a professional sumo wrestler. pitch /pich/ [verb] in baseball, to throw a ball towards the player with the bat in order for them to try to hit it Shohei Otani pitched for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for three years. outstanding /out-STAN-ding/ [adjective] clearly very much better than what is usual My best friend has always been an outstanding student since grade…
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Intermediate

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Wasao becomes the new stationmaster

2019年6月21日

wasao

Photo by © KYODO via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you think dogs are the best pet? Please explain your answer. Do you have any pets? Why or why not? Vocabulary: in charge /in chahrj/ [idiom] responsible for something or someone He is in charge of doing the laundry. ceremony /SER-uh-moh-nee/ [verb] a formal occasion especially to recognize an important event Their wedding ceremony will take place on March 25th this year. partner /PAHRT-ner/ [noun] the person you are married to or living with as if married to them His partner will give birth next month. representative /rep-ri-ZEN-tuh-tiv/ [noun] a person who represents another person or a group a…
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Intermediate

Possible cure found for box jellyfish sting

2019年6月19日

Possible cure found for box jellyfish sting

Pre-reading questions: Do you like animals? Why or why not? What is your favorite marine animal and why? Vocabulary: poisonous /POI-zuh-nuhs/ [adjective] very harmful and able to cause illness or death Inland Taipan is a poisonous snake found in Australia. reduce /ri-DOOS/ [verb] to make something less in price, size, amount, etc. The shoe factory will reduce production because of its low demand. damaging /DAM-i-jing/ [adjective] causing harm She writes a damaging article about the celebrity she secretly hates. extreme /ik-STREEM/ [adjective] to the greatest degree She is very thin now after she went on an extreme diet. failure /FEYL-yer/ [noun] the fact of something not working as it should…
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Intermediate

Facebook chief wants more government regulation of internet

2019年6月14日

markz

Photo by © Getty via Evoke.ie Pre-reading questions: How can the internet help you learn English? Explain your answer. What do you think is the best thing about the internet? Why? Vocabulary: protection /pruh-TEK-shuhn/ [noun] the act of keeping someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss Our country needs protection from the terrorists. adopt /uh-DOPT/ [verb] to accept or start to use something new We need to adopt more strategic ways to improve the economy from other countries. harmful /HAHRM-fuhl/ [adjective] causing harm Early use of mobile phones is harmful to children. significant /sig-NIF-i-kuhnt/ [adjective] important, large, or great, especially in leading to a different result or to…
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Intermediate

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Living alone increases the risk of mental health disorders

2019年6月10日

living alone

Pre-reading questions: Which do you prefer, living alone or living with your family? Why? Do you like attending social gatherings? Why or why not? Vocabulary: substantiate /suhb-STAN-shee-eyt/ [verb] to show something to be true, or to support a claim with facts The local government has a lot of evidence to substantiate the allegations of election fraud. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot/ [verb] to be one of the reasons why something happens Immigrants contribute to the increasing population of the country. psychological /sahy-kuh-LOJ-i-kuhl/ [adjective] relating to the human mind and feelings The managers are also after the physical and psychological well-being of their employees. weaken /WEE-kuhn/ [verb] to (cause to) become less strong, powerful,…
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Intermediate

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New device translates thoughts into speech

2019年6月5日

brain

Pre-reading questions: What is the most helpful invention for you? Please explain your answer. How do you think technological advances affect people’s lives? Vocabulary: encode /en-KOHD/ [verb] to put information into a form in which it can be stored, and which can only be read using special technology or knowledge The new manager asked his associates to encode the documents into his Google Drive. vocal /VOH-kuhl/ [adjective] relating to or produced by the voice, either in singing or speaking Ryan Cayabyab is one of the most talented vocal coaches in the Philippines. epileptic /ep-uh-LEP-tik/ [adjective] a very sudden attack of an illness in which someone becomes unconscious or develops violent…
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Intermediate

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The Marie Kondo style of decluttering expenses

2019年6月3日

mariiii

Photo by © AP Photo/Seth Wenig via The Mainichi Pre-Reading Questions: Where do you usually spend your money? Why? Do you keep track of your expenses? Why or why not? Vocabulary: system /SIS-tuhm/ [noun] a way of doing things; a method Romaji is a Japanese writing system using the Latin alphabet. visualize /VIZH-oo-uh-lahyz/ [verb] to imagine something by forming a picture in your mind It’s hard to visualize how this carpet would look in our living room. expense /ik-SPENS/ [noun] something that makes you spend money According to our records, our largest expense this year was our Christmas party celebration. automatically /aw-tuh-MAT-ik-lee/ [adverb] if a machine or device does something…
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Intermediate

Research recommends eating rice to fight obesity

2019年5月29日

rice

Pre-Reading Questions: What do you usually eat when you are hungry and why? Is dieting good or bad? Why or why not? Vocabulary: avert /uh-VURT/ [verb] to prevent something bad from happening; avoid She didn’t say a word during the forum to avert any conflict. analysis /uh-NAL-uh-sis/ [noun] the study of something in detail During physical examinations, the employees provide urine and blood for analysis. uncertain /uhn-SUR-tn/ [adjective] unclear, or not sure Paula is still uncertain about working and living abroad. data /DEY-tuh/ [noun] information collected to be examined The data from the election returns was transmitted electronically. decrease /dih-KREES/ [verb] to become less, or to make something become less…
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Intermediate

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Tokyo’s Bunkitsu: A gallery-like bookstore

2019年5月27日

bunkitsu

Photo by © LIBRO PLUS via The Japan Times Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like reading books and magazines? If yes, what kind of books and magazines do you like? If no, can you tell why? Do you like going to art galleries? If yes, please tell me more. If no, why not? Vocabulary: confuse /kuhn-FYOOZ/ [verb] to mix up two separate things or people in your mind, imagining that they are one It’s easy to confuse his song with other songwriters. district /DIS-trikt/ [noun] an area of a country, state, or city that has been given fixed borders for official purposes Someone was responsible for the measures of public health…
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Intermediate

Cherry blossoms attract more foreign tourists

2019年5月22日

cherry blossom

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite season and why? Where do you usually watch cherry blossoms bloom? Vocabulary: cherished /CHER-ishd/ [adjective] bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is important to you The love letters in the old box are her most cherished possessions. attract /uh-TRAKT/ [verb] to pull or draw someone or something towards them, by the qualities they have, especially good ones The idols’ concerts attract a lot of female fans and audiences. management /MAN-ij-muhnt/ [noun] the group of people who control a company or organization The mall’s management allows its customers to bring their pets inside the stores. feature /FEE-cher/ [verb] to…
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Intermediate