Tag Archive: world news – intermediate

Denmark frees three suspected pirates

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© Danish Armed Forces via BBC News Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you think pirates still exist nowadays? Please share your thoughts about them. Where is the largest sea in your country located? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. suspected /suh-SPEK-tuhd/ [adjective] – believed to be guilty of a crime The suspected thieves were eventually caught by the police. locate /loh-KEYT/ [verb] – to find We cannot locate the exact destination of the shop. attempted /uh-TEMP-tuhd/ [adjective] – (of a crime) that someone has tried to commit without success He’s being questioned for the attempted…
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Hydroelectric dams have been linked to the extinction of tigers and jaguars

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Why do animals become extinct? What do dams do? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. expansion /ik-SPAN-shuhn/ [noun] – to increase in size, number, or importance, or to make something increase in this way The company’s expansion on their commercial operations during the 1980s had a huge impact on their services. impact /IM-pakt/ [noun] – a powerful effect that something, especially something new, has on a situation or person The new measures are going to prevent the impact of the new tax system. construction /kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn/ [noun] – the work of building…
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New Zealand to prohibit the use of cigarettes for future generations

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What are some people’s bad habits? What do you think of smoking? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. prohibit /proh-HIB-it/ [verb] – to officially refuse to allow something Trucks are prohibited from driving on the ice. implement /IM-pluh-ment/ [verb] – to start using a plan or system Changes to the national health system will be implemented in 2024. addicted /uh-DIK-tid/ [adjective] – unable to stop taking drugs, or doing something as a habit I’m addicted to salty foods. objective /uhb-JEK-tiv/ [noun] – something that you plan to do or achieve Her…
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Medicines for flu-like symptoms out of stock in most pharmacies in Philippines

Medicines for flu-like symptoms out-of-stock in most PH pharmacies (1)

Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you take medicines immediately after feeling feverish? Why or why not? What other vitamins or food do you take to boost your immune system? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. demand /dih-MAND/ [noun] – a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use The price of poultry products increased because of high demand. shortage /SHAWR-tij/ [noun] – a situation in which there is not enough of something There is an ongoing shortage of sanitary supplies. temporarily /tem-puh-RAIR-uh-lee/ [adverb] – in a way that does not last…
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Xi’an residents trade supplies amid food shortages

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© WEBIO via BBC NEWS Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you tried trading your items for something else? Please tell me more about it. How do the local authorities in your city handle COVID-19? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. trade /treyd/ [verb] – to exchange something for another thing Could I trade my Nintendo Switch for a PlayStation? supply /suh-PLAHY/ [noun] – an amount of something that is available for use There is enough food supply for everyone. household /HOUS-hohld/ [noun] – a group of people, often a family, who live together Many households…
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France bans plastic packaging for most fruits and vegetables

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©BBC via GETTY IMAGES Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How often do you eat fruits? How do you store leftover vegetables? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. revolution /rev-uh-LOO-shuhn / [noun] – a very important change in the way that people do things The technological revolution has affected our way of life. determination /dih-tur-muh-NEY-shuhn/ [noun] – the ability to continue trying to do something, although it is very difficult I admire Jessie for his determination to finish the race. put an end /poot-uhn-end/ [phrasal verb] – to make something stop happening or existing The mayor promised…
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France impedes partying on New Year’s Eve to limit COVID-19 infections

France impedes partying on New Year’s Eve to limit COVID-19 infections

©Daniel Haug/Getty Images Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. How did you celebrate New Year’s Eve? Are outdoor parties and fireworks displays popular in your country during the holiday season? Please share something about it. Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. cooperation /koh-op-uh-REY-shuhn/ [noun] – the act of working together with someone or doing what they ask you We ask everyone’s cooperation to finish this project by the due date. frustration /fruh-STREY-shuhn/ [noun] – the feeling of being annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want, or something that makes you feel like this…
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Scientists make significant progress in using DNA to store data

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Do you like taking pictures and videos? Why? Is DNA important? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. substantial /suhb-STAN-shuhl / [adejctive] – large in size, value, or importance His novel’s first draft requires a substantial amount of rewriting. storage /STAWR-ij/ [noun] – the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future To make more storage space, we had to build some cupboards. data /DAT-uh/ [noun] – information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined and considered and used to help decision-making, or information…
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Hertfordshire tractors raise funds for Christmas charity

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© ROMAN TURNEY PHOTOGRAPHY via BBC NEWS Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you volunteered for a good cause? If yes, please tell me more about it. If not, what would you like to volunteer for and why? When does your country usually have parades? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. witness /WIT-nis/ [verb] – to see something happen We witnessed a public song performance on our way home. parade /puh-REYD/ [noun] – a large number of people walking or in vehicles, all going in the same direction, usually as part of a public celebration of…
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What factors influence a child’s decision to have a best friend?

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What qualities do you look for in a friend? Could you tell me about your best friend? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. tend /tend/ [verb] – to be likely to behave in a particular way or have a particular characteristic In this section of the country, we tend to have cold winters and hot, dry summers. intimacy /IN-tuh-muh-see/ [noun] – close familiarity or friendship; closeness The opposite of loneliness is intimacy, not togetherness. evolutionary /ev-uh-LOO-shuh-ner-ee/ [adjective] – relating to the way in which living things develop over millions of years…
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