Tag Archive: world news – beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you know other countries aside from Japan that got struck by a tsunami? Which part of Japan was hit by a tsunami back in 2011?   A school in Miyagi prefecture opened to the public for the first time after the tsunami attack in 2011. 135 people visited the old buildings last Dec.03. It was the last time people could see the buildings before clean-up work begins. All damaged buildings will be removed. But the four-story south building will open as a disaster monument in 2018.   Vocabulary: public – [noun] ordinary people; the community clean-up – [phrasal verb] make things or an area clean damage…
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  Pre-reading questions: What are the effects of climate change? Do you think climate change is really happening?   The Paris Climate Change Agreement was finally approved last November 2016. It was created to battle climate change. The agreement aims to restrict the worldwide temperature that causes global warming. 109 countries promised to control carbon production to fight climate change. Participating countries are expected to implement the agreement on 2017.   Vocabulary: agreement – [noun] an act of agreeing or act of mutual accord approve – [verb] to accept or to agree to restrict – [verb] to confine or to use with limits production – [noun] act of producing implement…
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Pre-reading questions: Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child? Do you attend any special gathering during Christmas season? Is Christmas more exciting than New Year’s? An annual Christmas event invited all alcohol-loving people to SantaCon. It is a parade of drunk Santas, reindeer and snowmen. Those who joined happily toured at some of the best bars in NYC. The said event took place last December 10. Most of the bars that participated are in the East Village and Midtown of New York City. This is one of the most-awaited NYC events every December. Vocabulary: annual – [adjective] once-a-year parade – [noun] a public walk especially when…
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  Pre-reading questions: Have you been to another country? What languages can you speak?   GHANA—A fake U.S. Embassy was discovered in the city of Accra. It was giving illegal visas for ten years. The fake embassy looks old. A Ghanian lawyer and Ghanian and Turkish criminals work there. Turkish citizens who can speak English and Dutch pretend as embassy officers. The fake U.S. Embassy wants people to pay $6000 for fake U.S. Visas. The real U.S. Embassy in Ghana is a beautiful building in Cantonments.   Vocabulary: embassy- [noun] the official place to represent a country in another country discovered- [verb] find fake- [adjective] not real illegal- [adjective] not…
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  Pre-reading questions: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in your country? How do you celebrate Thanksgiving Day?   Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held last Thursday, November 24, 2016. It took place in Manhattan, New York City. It started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 12:00 p.m. The Parade was watched by more than 3.5 million people. It was televised worldwide on NBC. This is the biggest and most beloved parade.   Vocabulary: Thanksgiving Day – [noun] a yearly parade by the US-based department store chain Macy’s parade – [noun] a public procession, especially one celebrating a special day or event, and including marching bands and floats televise – [verb] transmit…
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  Pre-reading questions: Do you like onigiri? Have you ever participated on any festival in your country?   A man fainted in an onigiri speed-eating contest in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. He fainted because of a large onigiri in his throat. He was brought to the hospital right away, but he died 3 days after. The speed-eating was done to celebrate Friendship Festival in their region. Organizers felt sorry about the incident. The event happened last November 13.   Vocabulary: faint – 気が遠くなって[adjective] to lose consciousness. contest – コンテスト[noun] a race or competition. region – 地域[noun] a district or division. organizer – 主催者[noun] a person or group who organize things, events,…
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  Pre-reading questions: Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Where is the best place to go during an earthquake?   The impact of magnitude 7.8 earthquake is still not clear. Officials say at least 2 people died. Small towns were inaccessible and roads were blocked by landslides. About 600 people were trapped in Kaikoura, but the government already gave help to the townspeople.   Vocabulary: magnitude – [noun] the great size inaccessible – [adjective] unable to be reached block – [noun] difficult; impossible landslide – [noun] rockslide; mudslide trapped – [verb] cannot move   True or False: The impact of magnitude 8 earthquake is still not clear. Officials say at…
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  Pre-reading questions: How tall are you? Do you think Japanese people are tall?   A research by Imperial College of London found out that the tallest men in the world are from Netherlands, and the tallest women are from Latvia. More than 800 scientists joined the research. Other scientists believed that people grow because of their genes. The Imperial College of London says that nutrition is also important. Scientists say that people in Netherlands are the tallest because they eat protein-rich food like milk and cheese.   Vocabulary: research – 研究 [noun] a study about a subject found out – 発見した [verb] a result nutrition – 栄養 [noun] can…
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Pre-reading questions: Do you use things that are made of plastics? What are some ways to protect the environment? The United Nations (U.N) talks about climate change during the meeting in Marrakesh in Morocco. They talked about how to be responsible in taking care of our planet. They said people must be responsible at all times. They must also be careful in using things that can be bad for others’ health. Vocabulary: climate change – 気候変動 [noun] changes in the weather environment – 環境 [noun] surroundings responsible – 責任を果たせる [adjective] accountable for planet – 惑星 [noun] heavenly body,earth United Nations – 国際連合 [noun] an international organization True or False: The…
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Pre-reading questions: How do you call your money/currency? Do you think eating instant foods is nutritious? Why or Why not? Today, US inmates uses ramen as their money. In some prisons, meals are only served 2 times a day beacuse of budget shortage. This is the main reason why they use instant ramen as their money. Instant ramen has a high value in prisons so they are using it in exchange for sweatshirts, thermal underwear, fresh vegetables, or cigarettes. Other forms of money that they use are postage stamps, preserved mackerel, and instant coffee. Vocabulary: inmate – 収容者 [noun] a person who is confined in a prison, hospital, etc shortage…
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