Tag Archive: world news – intermediate

Hedgehog population in the UK countryside declines, studies show

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are endangered species? Do hedgehogs make good pets? Why do you think so? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. rural /ROOR-uhl / [adjective] – in, of, or like the countryside The area is still undeveloped and rural. decline /dih-KLAHYN/ [verb] – to gradually become less, worse, or lower They’ve just declined the price. survey /SUR-vey/ [noun] – an examination of opinions, behavior, etc., made by asking people questions According to a latest survey, 75% of those questioned were in favor of the plan. urban /UR-buhn / [adjective] – of or…
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HMS Endurance found after 107 years following its sinking

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© Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and National Geographic via CNN News Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. When was the last time you went to the ocean? What did you do there? What kinds of documentaries do you enjoy watching? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. explorer /ik-SPLAWR-er/ [noun] – someone who travels to places where no one has ever been in order to find out what is there Ferdinand Magellan was a famous sixteenth-century explorer. shipwreck /SHIP-rek/ [noun] – an accident in which a ship is destroyed or sunk at sea, especially by hitting rocks, or…
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The strange reason why migrating birds are attracted to cities

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Where do birds migrate? What birds have adapted to stay in the winter rather than migrate south? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. migratory /MAHY-gruh-tawr-ee/ [adjective] – a migratory bird or animal is one that migrates (= travels to a different place, usually when the season changes) Sea eagles aren’t migratory, so once they’re gone, there’s no way to bring them back. species /SPEE-sheez/ [noun] – a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other Mountain gorillas are…
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Paris is set to build a $145M cable car line

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©©Île-de-France Mobilités via CNN Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Which city in Europe would you like to visit? Why? How often do you travel by car? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. aerial /AIR-ee-uhl/ [adjective] – in or from the air, especially from an aircraft Reena would like to try aerial photography. estimate /ES-tuh-meyt/ [verb] – to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something The estimated costs of the city hall project are over £3 million. capacity /kuh-PAS-i-tee/ [noun] – the total amount that can be contained or produced This washing machine has…
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Why do so many individuals believe in the “soulmate myth”?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What characteristics are you looking for in a lifetime partner? Why do people believe in soulmates? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. theme park /theem pahrk/ [noun] – a large permanent area for public entertainment, with entertaining activities and big machines to ride on or play games on, restaurants, etc., sometimes all connected with a single subject It’s the biggest theme park outside the United States. individual /in-duh-VIJ-oo-uhl/ [noun] – a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which they belong Every individual has rights…
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Several European countries accept Ukrainian refugees

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© GETTY IMAGES via BBC News Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you been to a European country? If so, how was it? If not, which nation would you like to visit and why? Do you have a foreign friend? Please tell me more about him or her. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. invasion /in-VEY-zhuhn/ [noun] – an occasion when an army or country uses force to enter and take control of another country They were planning on a full-scale invasion of the north. refugee /ref-yoo-JEE/ [noun] – a person who has escaped from their…
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The suffocating expectation of 24-hour, seven-day-a-week digital accessibility

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How do you feel when someone has not replied to your text message? How many minutes does it take you to reply to someone’s text message? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. concerned /kuhn-SURND/ [adjective] – worried I’m a little concerned about my mother’s health. respond /ri-SPOND/ [verb] – to say or do something as a reaction to something that has been said or done He responded to every question asked to him. remote /ri-MOHT/ [adjective] – far away in distance Australia is huge and remote from the world’s major population…
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There are more tree species on the planet than we originally predicted

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you been to a tropical forest before? Could you share something about it? What comes to mind after reading the title of the article? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. species /SPEE-sheez/ [noun] – a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other Mountain gorillas are a rare species in the wild. tropical /TROP-i-kuhl / [adjective] – extremely hot My dream is to live on a tropical island. rely on /ri-LAHY on/ [phrasal verb] – to need…
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Space travel damages red blood cells quicker than on Earth

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you think of space travel? What do you think of the health risk of space travel? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. occur /uh-KUR/ [verb] – (especially of accidents and other unexpected events) to happen If any of these symptoms occur while taking the medicine, contact your doctor right away. gather /GATH-er/ [verb] – to collect several things, often from different places or people She gathered the newspapers that had been scattered about the room. calculate /KAL-kyuh-leyt / [verb] – to judge the amount or value of something by using…
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Spain’s ‘liquid gold’ is still unexplored

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What Earth element do you think is unexplored? What is liquid gold? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. potential /puh-TEN-shuhl/ [adjective] – able to develop into something in the future when the necessary conditions exist It’s believed that a number of potential purchasers have expressed interest. rural /ROOR-uhl / [adjective] – in, of, or like the countryside The area is still undeveloped and rural. emerge /ih-MURJ/ [verb] – to appear by coming out of something or out from behind something The flowers emerge in the spring. treat /treet/ [verb] – to…
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