Intermediate

Netflix’s charge increases

2017年11月16日

technology

Pre-reading questions: Are you familiar with Netflix? Are there other popular apps in your country similar to Netflix? What is your favorite movie/TV show? Why is it your favorite movie/TV show?   Vocabulary: existing users – current customers The company takes good care of its existing users. exclusive – only available to a specific group I was invited to join an exclusive club for soccer players. invest – to use money for profit gain I want to invest in a new house. prime – a subscription plan higher than the standard A prime membership in the country club has a lot of benefits.   Netflix has decided to increase its…
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Intermediate

A world free from tobacco

2017年10月26日

Health - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: How does tobacco affect the environment? Are there strict regulations on smoking in your country? Vocabulary: consumption – the use of something by drinking, eating, etc This city has a high alcohol consumption rate. claim – cause the loss of someone’s life The typhoon last month claimed a lot of lives. arise – happen; emerge A lot of problems may arise from not taking proper care of your health. dispose of – to get rid of by throwing away or giving or selling to someone else If you don’t dispose of your garbage properly, the government will give you a fine. action plan – a proposed strategy I…
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Intermediate

Unilever develops technology to prevent billions of plastic sachets from entering into oceans

2017年8月18日

Business - I

Pre-reading questions: Why is recycling important? Does recycling help the environment? Vocabulary: cosmetics– products that enhance beauty such as make-up Women love to go shop for cosmetics. packaging– material used to pack something Most companies use plastic packaging for their products. pollute– contaminate Materials such as plastic can pollute our surroundings. pilot– first I missed the pilot episode of my favorite show. effectivity– producing a desired effect My team has to test the effectivity of the product before releasing it to the market. Most products today such as food and cosmetics are packed in plastic so people tend to throw the packaging away upon consuming the product. Eventually, plastic packages…
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Intermediate

Festival generates ethnic separation in Paris

2017年8月15日

World News - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: What do you feel when you are being surrounded by different people from different races? Please explain your answer. Would you consider hanging out with them despite your differences? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: 1. prosecute – [verb] to officially accuse someone of committing an illegal act and bring it to court of law She has the right to prosecute the organizers of their wrong doing. 2. discrimination – [noun] unfair treatment of a person or group There is a discrimination between males and females in this company. 3. jurisdiction – [noun] the official authority to make legal decisions and judgement This area is under the mayor’s…
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Intermediate

MSDF ship joins U.S. vessel on escort mission

2017年8月15日

Japan - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: What do you know about MSDF? Do you think it’s important for every country to have peace? What can you say about Japan’s military bond with United States? Vocabulary: destroyer – (military terms) warship Japan has a long list of military destroyers. Peninsula – an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except the narrow strip of land connecting it with the mainland. Boso Peninsula can be found in Chiba Prefecture. defense – protection against attack Japan’s current Defense Minister is Tomomi Inada. escort – a group of persons,or a single person accompanying another or others for protection Japan and US are on an escort mission….
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Intermediate

The Dalai Lama in Tawang

2017年8月11日

World News - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: If you could visit any place in the world for free, where will you go? Why? Which country do you think is the safest? Vocabulary: refugee – a person who leaves his or her home or country to find safety The increasing number of refugees due to terrorism is very alarming. human rights – the basic rights to fair and moral treatment that every person is believed to have I’m a big supporter of human rights. political asylum – the protection given by a government to foreign people who have left their own country because they disagree with their own government Anyone can seek political asylum in my…
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Intermediate

Muirfield votes to allow female members

2017年8月9日

Sports - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: Are you a member of any sports club? Do you know any sporting events that are played by males or females only? Discuss. Vocabulary: concerned – worried; caring I didn’t play because I was concerned about losing. bar – prohibit (someone) from doing something She was barred from entering the club because she’s too young. exclusion – a situation in which someone or something is not allowed to take part in an activity or to enter a place Your exclusion from this game is a punishment for coming in late. illustrious – famous and well respected He came from an illustrious family in London. discriminatory – unfairly treating…
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Intermediate

Job-juggling is challenging yet beneficial

2017年8月3日

Japan - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: What are the skills that an employee needs? What are the challenges of having many jobs for an individual? Vocabulary: 1. prevailing [adjective] – to be or continue in use or fashion My co-employees hope that job-juggling will be a prevailing practice in the future. 2. permitting [verb] – to allow to do something My company is not permitting me to have a part time job. 3. moonlighting [verb] – to hold a second job in addition to a regular one Since I need money for my studies, I’ll see if I can do moonlighting. 4. boosting [verb] – to increase; raise Jog-juggling is boosting an employee’s…
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Intermediate

Saudi Arabia’s government adds 5% tax on some goods

2017年7月19日

Business - I

Pre-reading questions: Do you think it is useful to know a bit about the economic status of other countries? Why do you think some people find it difficult to discuss the economy? Vocabulary: exporter – someone who sells goods to another country India is a major exporter of rice. drastic – something that has a very big effect on another Our budget has been drastically reduced. impose – to force something to be accepted or to be done The chairman of the board imposed his decision on his team. adhere – to believe in and follow the practices of something It is our duty to adhere to the law. revoke – to…
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Intermediate

Easier learning through smartphones

2017年7月14日

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you find smartphones more advantageous or more disadvantageous? What would your life be like without smartphones? Vocabulary: effortless – easy; natural English is not her first language but her speech is effortless. instantly – immediately I was so tired that when I got home, I fell asleep instantly. extend – increase in scope; to include more Please extend the scope of your research to cover environmental issues in the countryside. mere – no more than; only I want nothing more than mere friendship. accessible – reachable; attainable The Internet has made information more accessible. Communication has been made effortless by smartphones. Through smartphones, people can instantly exchange…
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Intermediate