Tag Archive: science & technology – intermediate

World-class airport implements passport-free travel system

airport-3810408_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What comes to mind when you think about airports? What challenges do you think passengers always face in airports? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. implement /IM-pluh-ment/ [verb] – to start using a plan or system The company decided to implement new project management software to streamline workflows. highlight /HAHY-lahyt / [verb] – to attract attention to or emphasize something important The report’s executive summary provides a concise way to highlight the key findings and recommendations. expansion /ik-SPAN-shuhn/ [noun] – the increase of something in size, number, or importance The company’s…
Read more

Scientists recover RNA from extinct Tasmanian tiger, unlocking genetic secrets

new discovery

©Emilio Mármol Sánchez Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think a Tasmanian tiger might look like? Where do you think it lived? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. preserve /pri-ZURV/ [verb] – to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from decaying or being damaged or destroyed The agreement preserved our right to limit trade in endangered species. detailed /dih-TEYLD/ [adjective] – giving a lot of information with many details He kept a detailed account of the suspect’s movements. genetic /juh-NET-ik / [noun] – the genetic makeup, traits, and inheritance…
Read more

Duracell launches cutting-edge eco-friendly power solution

AdobeStock_625183961

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are some innovative energy solutions that you’re familiar with? Can you think of ways in which renewable energy sources could be integrated into everyday products for convenience and sustainability? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. launch /lawnch/ [verb] – to introduce or start something, such as a new product or initiative Duracell recently launched a new Portable Power Station, providing a convenient energy solution. environmentally friendly /uhn-vai-urn-MEN-tuh-lee FREND-lee/ [adjective] – not harmful to the environment; designed to have minimal impact on nature The environmentally friendly features of the Duracell Portable…
Read more

SpaceX’s Starship test ends in failure after reaching space

SpaceX

©REUTERS/Go Nakamura Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What companies or organizations do you know of that are working on making spacecraft for space exploration missions? Why is it important to keep trying and making things better when inventing new technology? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. mission /MISH-uhn/ [noun] – planned journeys or endeavors The space agency announced a new mission to explore the outer planets of our solar system using advanced spacecraft. launch /lawnch/ [verb] – an occasion when a ship is put into water, or a spacecraft is sent into space, for the first…
Read more

Scientists unlock lunar soil’s agricultural potential, paving the way for sustainable moon farming

plant in moon soil

©Reuters Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are your initial thoughts or assumptions about the soil on the moon? Do you think the soil on the moon is similar to the soil on Earth, or could there be significant differences? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. breakthrough /BREYK-throo/ [noun] – an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem The scientist’s recent breakthrough in renewable energy could revolutionize how we power our homes. crucial /KROO-shuhl / [adjective] – extremely important or necessary Proper nutrition is crucial for…
Read more

Scientists rediscover elusive echidna species in remote Indonesian mountains

Echidna, also known as spiny ant eaters.
They are egg laying mammals.

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Before learning about echidnas, what do you think are the typical characteristics of mammals? If you were to guess, why might some animals be challenging to locate in the wild? Can you think of any specific features or behaviors that could make them elusive? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. remarkable /ri-MAHR-kuh-buhl/ [adjective] – unusual or special, and therefore surprising and worth mentioning The artist’s painting was remarkable, capturing the beauty of the sunset in vivid colors. earthquake /URTH-kweyk/ [noun] – a sudden violent movement of the earth’s surface, sometimes causing…
Read more

Honda contemplates $14 billion EV production plan in Canada, Nikkei reports

honda-1277981_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How do you think the shift towards electric vehicles might impact the global automotive market in the coming years? Can you name any automakers that have recently made significant strides in electric vehicle technology or manufacturing? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. confirm /kuhn-FURM/ [verb] – to officially state or declare the truth or validity of something The company will confirm the appointment by sending a confirmation email to all participants. investment /in-VEST-muhnt/ [noun] – the act of putting money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit or get…
Read more

Waters may flow on exoplanet K2-18b, suggesting habitability, Webb data reveals

planet

©NASA/ESA/CSA/Joseph Olmsted (STScI) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think ‘exoplanet’ means? If you were an astronaut exploring space, what would you find exciting or challenging about studying planets beyond our solar system? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. evidence /EV-i-duhns/ [noun] – one or more reasons for believing that something is or is not true There is no evidence to support the claim that aliens have visited Earth. distant /DIS-tuhnt / [adjective] – far away The mountain range seemed distant, but we decided to embark on the journey. absence /AB-suhns/ [noun] – state…
Read more

Global Smart Indoor Garden Market flourishes

gardening-2518377_1280

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are some benefits of indoor gardening? How might it differ from traditional outdoor gardening? Have you ever heard of smart indoor gardening systems? What features do you think they might have? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. annually /AN-yoo-uh-lee / [adverb] – once a year; yearly We celebrate our anniversary annually with a special dinner. sophisticated /suh-FIS-ti-key-tid/ [adjective] – complex, advanced, and intricate The smart indoor gardening system comes with a sophisticated sensor for monitoring plant health. expansion /ik-SPAN-shuhn/ [noun] – the act of increasing in size or volume; growth…
Read more

Fossil in New Mexico suggests a new kind of Tyrannosaurus rex

Screenshot 2024-01-18 134403

©U.S. Sergei Krasinski/Handout via Reuters Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What images or ideas come to your mind when you hear the term Tyrannosaurus rex? What do you expect to discover about this dinosaur? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. evolution /ev-uh-LOO-shuhn / [noun] – the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years The evolution of smartphones has transformed communication in the modern era. selection /si-LEK-shuhn/ [noun] – the act of choosing someone or something The selection of a candidate for the job involved a thorough interview process. debate /dih-BEYT/ [noun]…
Read more