Intermediate

Robots in towns

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©BBC News Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you ever seen a robot in real life? Could you tell me about it? Would you like to have a robot? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. chase /cheys/ [verb] – to hurry after someone or something in order to catch him, her, or it I’ve been trying to chase the mouse down all day! relieved /ri-LEEVT/ [adjective] – happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended I felt relieved to hear the news. slow down /SLOH-doun/ [phrasal verb] – to move…
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Airbnb bookings surpass record as travel recovers

Happy young woman with credit card booking vacation at travel agency or making hotel reservation online, using laptop computer, planning abroad trip at home, copy space

Pre-reading questions I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What places have you been to this year? Please share your best travel experience. Vocabulary I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. decline /dih-KLAHYN/ [noun] – when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength There has been a general decline in employment. reservation /rez-er-VEY-shuhn/ [noun] – an arrangement in which something such as a seat on an aircraft or a table at a restaurant is kept for you When is the reservation deadline? investor /in-VE-stuhr/ [noun] – a person who puts money into something in order to make a profit or…
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The behind-the-scenes of being a social media influencer

Female make up influencer record eyelashes care tutorial with sm

Pre-reading questions I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What career paths are in demand nowadays in your country? Is being an influencer famous in your country? Vocabulary I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. influencer /IN-floo-uhn-ser/ [noun] – a person who is paid by a company to show and describe its products and services on social media, encouraging other people to buy them She has now started working full-time as an influencer. rocky /ROK-ee/ [adjective] – difficult or uncertain The show is now popular after its rocky start. underappreciate /uhn-der-uh-PREE-shee-ayt/ [verb] – to not hold in sufficiently high esteem Critics underappreciate…
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Boy rides bike 1,000 miles for animal charity

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What outdoor activity do you like? Could you tell me more about it? Have you already tried cycling for many hours? If so, how was it? If not, where would you like to go? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. resident /REZ-i-duhnt/ [noun] – a person who lives or has their home in a place Many retired British people are now residents in Spain. donation /doh-NEY-shuhn/ [noun] – money or goods that are given to help a person or organization, or the act of giving them Send us a donation now….
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Netflix and Microsoft collaborate on a lower-cost plan with advertisements

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you like watching movies/series? Why or why not? Why is collaboration a good idea? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. loss /laws/ [noun] – the fact that you no longer have something or have less of something I want to report the loss of a package. selection /si-LEK-shuhn/ [noun] – the act of choosing someone or something The careful selection of projects leads to success. consumer /kuhn-SOO-mer/ [noun] – a person who buys goods or services for their own use All consumers, including businesses, will be affected by the new…
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New study says weekend warriors are lowering their risk of getting disease

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What kinds of exercises do you do? Could you tell me more about them? How do you keep yourself healthy? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. muscle /MUHS-uhl/ [noun] – one of many tissues in the body that can tighten and relax to produce movement These exercises build muscles. physically /FIX-ik-lee/ [adverb] – in a way that relates to the body or someone’s appearance Her job is physically demanding. internal medicine /in-TUR-nl MED-uh-sin/ [noun] – the part of medical science that is involved in the discovery of diseases inside the body…
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Singapore uses rooftop farms to increase food production

Rooftop Gardens of University library in center of Warsaw. Green building, plants and many trees. Good location for rest, reading book. Outdoors

Pre-reading questions I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What crops are abundant in your country? What is your idea of a rooftop farm? Vocabulary I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. import /im-PAWRT/ [verb] – to buy or bring in products from another country We import a lot of cars from Japan. resources /REE-sohrsiz/ [noun] – things of value such as money or possessions that you can use when you need them We lack the resources necessary to update our computer software. run /ruhn/ [verb] – to be in control of something He has been running a restaurant since graduating from…
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Catastrophizing: What is it and how can it be stopped?

Head shot stressed young woman holding paper document, bank debt notification, thinking of financial troubles, looking away. Lost in negative thoughts depressed woman worrying about bad news notice.

Pre-reading questions I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How do you feel on your first day at work/at school? What do you do to make sure you will succeed in your plans? Vocabulary I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. envision /en-VIZH-uhn/ [verb] – to imagine or expect something to happen, appear, etc. in a particular way They didn’t envision any issues with the new building. likely /LAHYK-lee/ [adjective] – if something is likely, it will probably happen or is expected The tickets will most likely be expensive. guarantee /gar-uhn-TEE/ [noun] – a promise that something will be done or will…
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Chat platform Slack to make its pricing higher

August 21, 2019 San Francisco / USA - Slack Technologies, Inc. sign at their HQ in SOMA district; Slack (its main product) is a cloud-based set of collaboration software tools and online services

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you use messaging platforms for things other than talking to people? How do you use it if so? If not, what other things can a chat platform do that you can think of? Do you think people need to use online chat platforms? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. increase /in-KREES/ [verb] – to (make something) become larger in amount or size Peter’s height increased after drinking the growth enhancer vitamin. secondly /SEK-uhnd-lee/ [adverb] – used when stating the second of two or more reasons or…
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Smartphones being tracked in USA

Businesss Workers using smartphone cargo and tracking delivery for Transportation and global network of smart logistics in blur warehouse background.

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you want a smartphone with a tracking device? Why or why not? Why do you think there are smartphones that have a tracking device? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. liberty /LIB-er-tee/ [noun] – the freedom to live as you wish or go where you want We need liberty in our decisions. data /DEY-tuh/ [noun] – information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined and considered and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and used by a computer I stored the…
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