Intermediate

How convenient are Singapore’s vending machines?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What was the last thing you bought from a vending machine? Where are vending machines usually found in your country? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. worn-out /WOHRN-out/ [adjective] – worn or used beyond repair We visited our old elementary school and it’s already worn-out. limited /LIM-i-tid/ [adjective] – kept within a particular size, range, time, or group The employees have a limited budget for the business trip. expand /ik-SPAND/ [verb] – to increase in size, number, or importance, or to make something increase in this way Plans to expand the…
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Children during the pandemic go without dental treatment

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When did you last have your dental checkup? How often do you have your dental checkup? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. dental /DEN-tl/ [adjective] – relating to the teeth Have you already made a dental check-up appointment? survey /SUR-vey/ [noun] – an examination of opinions, behavior, etc., made by asking people questions A new survey found that 58% of individuals didn’t know where their heart was. nationwide /NEY-shuhn-WAHYD/ [adjective] – existing or happening in all parts of a particular country A nationwide survey was announced yesterday. fear /feer/ [noun] –…
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Climate change is worsening pollen season across the U.S.

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you ever had a pollen allergy before? What do you know about allergies? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. finding /FAHYN-ding/ [noun] – a piece of information that is discovered during an official examination of a problem, situation, or object These findings are inconsistent with those of previous studies. last /lahst/ [verb] – to continue to exist The documentary lasted almost two hours. annual /AN-yoo-uhl/ [adjective] – happening once every year The school festival is an annual event. extend /ik-STEND/ [verb] – to add to something in order to make…
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Facebook to sell Android-based smartwatch next year

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you have a smartwatch? If yes, please tell me more about it. If no, would you like to have one and why? What devices do you have? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. intend /in-TEND/ [verb] – to have as a plan or purpose Our family intends to go to Australia next year. feature /FEE-cher/ [noun] – a typical quality or an important part of something The latest software update has new interesting features. run /ruhn/ [verb] – to (cause something to) operate Old trains used to be run by…
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Tourists who take selfies could spread Covid-19 to gorillas

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What animals do you like? Have you already seen a gorilla? What can you say about it/ Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. traveler /TRAV-uh-ler/ [noun] – someone who travels The modern traveler can go where he likes. research /ri-SURCH/ [noun] – a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding: His research in the area of disease prevention has provided surprising results. individual /in-duh-VIJ-oo-uhl/ [noun] – a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which…
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Smallest reptile in the world discovered in Madagascar

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© via bbc.com Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the last time you have visited a zoo? Would you like to keep an exotic pet? Why or why not? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. diet /DAHY-it / [noun] – the food and drink usually eaten or drunk by a person or group Diet varies between different countries in the world. spectacular /spek-TAK-yuh-ler/ [adjective] – especially great The company had a spectacular success with the product. extreme /ik-STREEM/ [adjective] – very large in amount or degree The people in this area live in extreme poverty….
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A piece of Himalayan glacier bursts open a dam in India

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are common natural disasters in your country? What do you do to help save the environment? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. evacuate /ih-VAK-yoo-eyt/ [verb] – to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe People in the building were urged to evacuate the area immediately. avalanche /AV-uh-lanch/ [noun] – a large amount of ice, snow, dirt, or rock falling suddenly and quickly down the side of a mountain They were able to escape the avalanche in the ski resort yesterday afternoon. incident /IN-si-duhnt/ [noun] – an event that…
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Europeans pay 20% more for their holidays than they did before the pandemic

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the time you traveled? Do you have any plans traveling this year? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. particularly /per-TIK-yuh-ler-lee/ [adverb] – especially, or more than usual We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who speak two or more European languages. scheduled /SKEJ-oold/ [adjective] – planned to happen at a particular time He usually attended regularly scheduled meetings with the technicians. doubt /dout/ [noun] – (a feeling of) not being certain about something, especially about how good or true it is I’m having doubts about his ability to…
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AstraZeneca vaccines in France to be given to people under 65 years

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© EPA via bbc.com Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are the Covid-19 vaccines that you know of? How has Covid-19 change your life? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. approve /uh-PROOV/ [verb] – to accept, allow, or officially agree to something The committee has approved the suggestion discussed in the meeting. decision /dih-SIZH-uhn/ [noun] – a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities As the company’s president, he has to make tough decisions. firm /furm/ [noun] – a company offering a professional service, for example a company of lawyers She works…
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New normal, new work structures: Will they be effective?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What motivates you to work harder? How many days does it usually take you to finish your tasks? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. majority /muh-JAWR-i-tee/ [noun] – the larger number or part of something The majority of people surveyed prefer televisions to radios. preference /PREF-er-uhns/ [noun] – a choosing of or special liking for one person or thing rather than another or others His preference for clothes is rather unique. claim /kleym/ [verb] – to say that something is true or is a fact Susan claims that she lost her…
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