Intermediate

Is it okay to fall out of friendship?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you contact your friends? What do you and your friends usually do when you meet? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. in touch (with someone) /in tuhch (with SUHM-wuhn)/ [idiom] – seeing someone or communicating with someone regularly Have you been keeping in touch with Yuki? gut feeling /guht FEE-ling/ [noun] – a strong belief about someone or something that cannot completely be explained and does not have to be decided by reasoning I have a gut feeling that Nicholas is lying. circumstance /SUR-kuhm-stans/ [noun] – events that…
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Yuto Horigome of Japan wins the first-ever gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think of skateboarding? Please explain your answer. What sport are you good at? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. current /KUR-uhnt/ [adjective] – of the present time The current situation is very frustrating for us. trip /trip/ [verb] – to lose your balance after knocking your foot against something when you are walking or running, or to cause someone to do this That cable is dangerous. Someone might trip over it. struggle /STRUHG-uhl/ [verb] – to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do…
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A $5,800 Japanese whiskey gifted to Mike Pompeo is missing, U.S. says

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©Elijah Nouvelage / Bloomberg / Getty Images via CNN Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What is the most popular whiskey brand in your country? When do you usually give gifts to your family or friends? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. worth /wurth/ [adjective] – having a particular value, especially in money Susanna’s house is worth £300,000. knowledge /NOL-ij/ [noun] – the state of knowing about or being familiar with something He has no knowledge of what happened last Thursday. cause /kawz/ [noun] – to make something happen, especially something bad He told me that too…
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The music industry is turning to live streaming to increase revenue

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What was the last music festival you attended? Do you watch online concerts nowadays? Could you tell me more about it? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. effective /ih-FEK-tiv/ [adjective] – successful or achieving the results that you want This car polish is an effective shield against rust. existence /ig-ZIs-tuhns/ [noun] – the fact of something or someone existing The company that they started is still in existence today. virtual /VUR-choo-uhl/ [adjective] – created by computer technology and appearing to exist but not existing in the physical world You can take…
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Metro Manila under lockdown again due to COVID-19 Delta variant

Metro Manila under lockdown again due to COVID-19 Delta variant

©Pablo Barcelon via CNN Philippines Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What is your country’s current status in the ongoing pandemic? When was the last time you heard about COVID-19 news in the Philippines? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. permit /per-MIT/ [verb] – to allow something Smoking is not permitted in all areas of the establishment. crucial /KROO-shuhl/ [adjective] – extremely important or necessary Training is one of the most crucial parts of becoming a great athlete. severe /suh-VEER/ [adjective] – causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; very serious Many people suffer severe financial…
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Simone Biles wins bronze but leaves the competition

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©USA Today Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Are you updated with the Olympics? Please tell me more about it. What sport do you enjoy watching live or on television? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. competition /kom-pi-TISH-uhn/ [noun] – a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else Mizuki won first place in the poetry competition. unclear /uhn-KLEER/ [adjective] – not sure or certain It is still unclear if the meeting schedule will be changed or not. suffer /SUHF-er/ [verb] – to experience physical or mental pain Anne…
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How to keep your home cool on a warming planet

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How is the weather today in your place? How often do you use air conditioning? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. recent /REE-suhnt/ [adjective] – happening or starting from a short time ago Weather patterns have changed in recent years. climate /KLAHY-mit/ [noun] – the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place I adapted quickly to the new climate. contribute /kuhn-TRIB-yoot / [verb] – to be one of the reasons why something happens Does smoking contribute to air pollution? architecture /AHR-ki-tek-cher/ [noun] – the art and practice of designing…
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Meet the Olympics superfan who spent $40,000 on tickets

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©Kazunori Takishima via CNN Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Which athlete are you excited to see at the Olympics? Are you familiar with the Guinness World Records? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. ultimate /UHL-tuh-mit/ [adjective] – most extreme or important because either the original or final, or the best or worst Karen’s ultimate goal is to run her own beauty salon. witness /WIT-nis/ [verb] – a person who sees an event happening The children were witnessing the fireworks show for the first time. passion /PASH-uhn/ [noun] – a very powerful feeling, for example of love,…
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Tobacco firm Philip Morris calls for UK cigarette ban by 2030

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. In your country, are people allowed to smoke on the streets? Do companies in your office have no-smoking policies? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. ban /ban/ [verb] – to forbid (= refuse to allow) something, especially officially Most schools ban the use of cell phones inside classrooms. decade /DEK-eyd/ [noun] – a period of ten years, especially a period such as 2010 to 2019 She worked as an accountant for a decade. invest /in-VEST/ [verb] – to put money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit or get…
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Philippines’ weightlifting fairy bags country’s first Olympic gold medal

Philippines' weightlifting fairy bags country's first Olympic gold medal

©Edgard Garrido via Reuters Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What sport/s are you good at? What do you think is the most popular sport in the world? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. victory /VIK-tuh-ree/ [noun] – an occasion when you win a game, competition, election, war, etc. or the fact that you have won The team’s victory has brought pride to the country. category /KAT-i-gawr-ee/ [noun] – (in a system for dividing things according to appearance, quality, etc.) a type, or a group of things having some features that are the same Which category does…
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