Intermediate

Headmistress buys illegal jammer to block students’ internet use

2017年2月9日

  Pre-reading questions: Do you often use the internet? Does too much internet cause any bad effect? In what way? About how many hours a day do you use the internet?   It has been a concern for the headmistress of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College that children were unable to concentrate in lessons because of the internet. For this reason, the headmistress wanted to utilize on mobile phone jamming to hinder the students from getting distracted. The headmistress of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College was dismayed at student’s preoccupation with their smartphones. A letter was sent to parents by the headmistress, clarifying recent matters and that she…
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Intermediate

Pilot gives tips for coping with jet lag

2017年2月8日

  Pre-reading questions: Have you experienced jet lag during your flight? What happens to people who experience jet lag? How do you beat jet lag?   For pilots, managing jet lag is a job requirement since they are spending their days and nights flying across all kinds of time zones. According to R.J. “Dutch” Deutschendorf, system chief pilot at Southwest Airlines, pilots should know how to deal with fatigue. For this reason, their airline company’s training program incorporates ways pilots can cope with jet lag. To manage jet lag, passengers should stay hydrated at all times and limit their caffeine intake. It is best recommended to drink water instead of…
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Intermediate

Onsen adds sake into baths

2017年2月7日

  Pre-reading questions: Do you often visit hot springs? What are the benefits of bathing in a hot spring? Tell me about the last time you visited a hot spring.   Some ryokans (japanese inns) have introduced “furosshu”, which offers guests the experience of bathing in an onsen (hot spring) where local sake (rice wine) is combined. Visitors get the chance to soak in a sake-onsen every 26th of the month in ten onsen districts located in Niigata Prefecture. Sake-onsen guests will benefit from different skin treatments. Amino acid in sake is a potent moisturizer which is good for brightening the skin. Satisfied customers continue to rave about the positive…
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Intermediate

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

Pre-reading questions: How often do you visit a coffee shop/tea house? What do you enjoy doing while sitting in a tea house/coffee shop? Which do you prefer more: traditional tea house or modern coffee shop? Why? Traditional tea houses were built for relaxation and excitement during Qing Dynasty. Before, it was an exclusive place for males in politics and business. Nowadays, the common guests in tea houses are tourists and the older generation. Guests can enjoy scented teas and play card games or chinese chess. They can also experience traditional ear cleaning, eye brow plucking, and shoe shining. Today, tea houses in Chengdu, China are at risk from the country’s…
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Intermediate

University entrance examinations across Japan

2017年2月2日

Pre-reading questions: Do you get nervous when you take tests? What do you do after taking a difficult exam? Have you ever cheated on a test? High school graduates in Japan have completed the unified college entrance examinations. It is a 2-day examinations that ended last Sunday at 691 sites. Due to the stern weather, some sites were forced to reschedule. According to a student who took the tests at Tokyo Institute of Technology, she was delighted that the tests were over and will work harder in preparation for the next lap of examinations for the university she hopes to study in. Some sites encountered delays in starting the tests…
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Intermediate

McDonald’s sells off over 2,000 outlets in China, HK

2017年2月1日

Business - I

  Pre-reading questions: How often do you eat burgers? Do you like McDonald’s? Do you visit other foreign fast food chains in your area?   McDonald’s has handed 80% of its operations worth $2.1 billion to Citic group and Carlyle group. The two firms will take over 2,000 McDonald’s outlets in China and Hongkong. Under the new partnership, Citic takes a 52% stake while Carlyle handles 28% of the share. The American fast food chain keeps the remaining portion of 20%. This step is in line with the company’s goal to add more outlets in China, Hongkong and South Korea in the next 5 years.Yum brands, the owner of KFC…
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Intermediate

Tornadoes kill 18 in southern US

2017年1月30日

Pre-reading questions: Have you ever experienced a disaster? What are some kinds of disasters? What kind of disasters are common in your country? Areas in the southern part of the United States were hit by tornadoes causing 18 people to die while leaving 50 people wounded. The strong tornadoes and storms were brought by the severe weather in states of Georgia and Mississippi. These calamities caused casualties and damages in homes, roofs, cars, and trees. Some people shielded themselves in buildings which were left standing after the tornado. Georgia was declared under state of emergency in the badly affected area to give support to the residents and to evaluate the…
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Intermediate

Rural areas offer good life

2017年1月27日

Pre-reading questions: Have you visited other prefectures in your country? Do you have any favorite cities? Which is better, the urban life or the rural life? Why? Most retired people settle themselves in a rural area. They want to live in a secluded place. Nowadays, young people are considering to live in a slow life. Relocating themselves in a farm life and in fishing villages is a good start. A 29-year-old mother said that she can benefit a lot in slow living over the busy life of the city. People in rural areas can help villagers with their farming and fishing activities. Their culture comes from agriculture and from nature….
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Intermediate

New NTT West Corp. job interview program

2017年1月25日

  Pre-reading questions: What are typical job interview questions? What do you think is the one of hardest questions asked during an interview? Does physical attributes contribute to a higher evaluation in an interview.   The NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) West Corp. developed a program at Kansai University. The program analyzed students’ practice job interviews, and the results can be used to correct eye movements, gestures, and ways of speaking. Furthermore, a wristband checks the pulse and hand movements of the interviewee. Through camera and microphone, the program monitors facial expressions and counts how many times the speaker utters er or um. However, attitudes and mannerisms can also affect…
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Intermediate

Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home reopens to public

2017年1月23日

  Pre-reading questions: What is a historic site? Have you ever been to a historic site? Why are historic sites important?   After temporarily closing for repairs, Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home reopens. King is known for being an activist and a leader. His house at 450 Auburn Ave. N.E. is one of the buildings in the historic site in Atlanta, Georgia. It had to undergo repairs due to damages caused by daily visits, according to Judy Forte, superintendent of Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta. King’s birth home is partly open since only the first floor was restored. The upper floor of the landmark still…
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Intermediate