Tag Archive: japan news – intermediate

Photo from © Tanita Pre-Reading Questions: Please describe your favorite scent. Do you like wearing perfume? Why or why not? Vocabulary: device /dih-VAHYS/ [noun] a piece of equipment that is used for a particular purpose A pen tablet is an electronic device that can be used for drawing digital art. reveal /ri-VEEL/ [verb] to make known or show something usually secret or hidden She opened the box carefully to reveal the mystery item. odor /OH-der/ [noun] a particular smell The odor of dried roses was so strong we had to cover our noses. assess /uh-SES/ [verb] to make a judgement about the quality, size, or value of something The first…
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Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like taking the bullet train? Explain your answer. What do you think about Hello Kitty characters? Vocabulary: region /REE-juhn/ [noun] an area of a country The army has been brought in to maintain order in the region. prefecture /PREE-fek-cher/ [noun] a political region or local government area in some countries Each prefecture is divided into cities, towns and villages. exclusive /ik-SKLOO-siv/ [adjective] limited to only one person or group of people You can watch exclusive video clips and audio clips on our website. on the other hand /on thee uhth-er hand/ [phrase] from a different, conflicting, or contradictory point of view My husband likes classical music….
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Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Pre-Reading Questions: How do you treat people who do odd things? Do you see yourself working in a convenience store? Vocabulary: eccentric /ik-SENT-trik/ [noun] someone who behaves in a weird way She’s an eccentric; that’s why she’s always been the center of attraction in the class. bizarre /bih-ZAHR/ [adjective] strange and unusual He was loved by his family and friends eventhough he’s bizarre. dead end /DED END/ [noun] a situation that has no hope of making progress Businessmen got stuck in a dead-end situation in their attempts to find a possible solution. engaging /en-GEY-jing/ [adjective] tending to please; attractive The advertisement is…
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Pre-reading questions: What is the general election like in your country? Have you ever participated in a general election? Discuss. Vocabulary: authorize /AW-thuh-rahyz/ [verb] to give official permission for something to happen The government authorized the use of the new drug. adulthood /uh-DUHLT-hood/ [noun] the state of being an adult Paying bills is my least favorite part of adulthood. equalize /EE-kwuh-lahyz/ [verb] a situation means to give everyone the same rights or opportunities Let’s equalize the duties among all employees in this office. prohibit /proh-HIB-it/ [verb] to formally forbid someone from doing something The congress pass a bill that prohibits hunting in national parks. exploit /ik-SPLOIT/ [verb] make use of…
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Pre-reading questions: What is the last movie you saw? Do you have a favorite cafe? Please tell me something about it. Vocabulary: patron /PEY-truhn/ [noun] a customer The patrons of this restaurant usually order the house special. prevent /pri-VENT/ [verb] to stop something from happening Wear masks if you want to prevent getting the flu. intellect /IN-tl-ekt/ [noun] the ability to learn and understand something, and to form ideas, judgments, and opinions It requires great intellect to understand his books. shorten /SHAWR-tn/ [verb] to make something shorter Your pants are touching the ground; you need to have them shortened. release /ri-LEES/ [adjective] to make a record or film available for…
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Pre-reading questions: Do you like to follow trends? Please explain your answer. What trends is your hometown famous for? Vocabulary: trend [trend] (noun) something that becomes accepted or fashionable She teaches the latest trends in modern dance. patron [PEY-truhn] (noun) a regular customer of a store, restaurant, hotel, etc., This parking lot is reserved for patrons only. subtle [SUHT-l] (adjective) not bright or noticeable I detected a subtle change in his attitude towards us. tone [tohn] (noun) the general style of something I like the movie because of its dark tone. profitable [PROF-i-tuh-buhl] (adjective) resulting in financial profit Some of their new electronic products are highly profitable. A special kind…
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Pre-reading questions: What is/was your dream job? Why? What do you think is the most important job? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: probe [prohb] (verb) to search into or examine something The detectives probed the crime scene carefully. instructive [in-STRUHK-tiv] (adjective) related to school or research The young genius chose an instructive career to make good use of her intelligence. on the contrary [KON-trer-ee] (idiom) a fact or opinion that is the opposite of one already stated She is lying; on the contrary, she is really guilty of the crime! consecutive [kuhn-SEK-yuh-tiv] (adjective) following one after another without an interruption The teacher has been sick for 5 consecutive days already….
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  Pre-reading questions: How do you feel about mothers abandoning their children? How can the government help abandoned children? Vocabulary: pioneer – one of the first people to do something important The company has been a pioneer in the car industry since 1950. abandon – left without needed care, support and protection The twins were abandoned by their mother. adopt – to take care of someone’s child as your own legally She was adopted at an early age. unwanted – no longer wanted or desired They are attracting unwanted attention from the media. biological parent – someone’s natural father or mother It was her dream to meet her biological parents….
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  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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  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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