Need a little more time to get that one together.
Winter Morning
Need a little more time to get that one together.
Algae May Solve Acne Problems
【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. emerge [i-MURG] (v.) – to come out and be noticed
Example: The symptoms of the virus emerged after only two weeks of infection.
2. treat [treet] (v.) – to cure or to give medical care for something
Example: Skin infection must be treated immediately.
3. excessive [ik-SES-iv] (adj.) – too much or far from normal
Example: Excessive eating of oily food may cause pimples.
4. potential [puh-TEN-shuh l] (adj.) – possibility of something
Example: Stress is a potential cause of some illnesses.
5. present [PREZ-uh nt] (adj.) – exists or located in something or some place
Example: Harmful bacteria are present in dirty spoiled food.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Scientists from Scotland have recently discovered that marine algae [AL-jee] can be an effective treatment for problems related to acne [AK-nee]. Acne, scientifically known as Acne Vulgaris, is a skin disease common among many people, especially among teenagers. Acne usually starts to emerge during puberty, a period in which the oil glands of the skin are most active. Excessive oily liquids produced by the skin often lead to the growth of harmful bacteria that cause acne. Experts have already discovered treatments for acne that involve the use of formulated acids and drugs to fight pimple-causing bacteria. However, a group of marine scientists from the University of Stirling found a more natural solution through the use of marine algae or seaweeds. Marine Biotechnology professor Dr. Andrew Desbois [DES-bwah] and his co-researcher recognized how marine algae can help in skin and hair care. During their study, they learned that algae can produce a natural substance that aids in treating acne and in preventing its spread. The results of the study revealed how algae can boost the production of fatty acids on the skin as defense against unwanted bacteria. Researchers discovered six fatty acids present in the marine algae that can be very helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and in preventing the growth of acne. Some of these components are consumed by eating fish and seaweeds. However, researchers plan to make a potential ointment out of the marine algae that can be applied on skin parts affected by acne. |
【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Which acne treatment would you prefer, the formulated drugs or the marine algae? Why?
· How else do you think can acne be avoided?
Discussion B
· Do you think using natural treatment is better than synthetic (artificial) medicine? Why is that so?
· In your opinion, should researchers focus more on finding natural remedies? Why or why not?
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A Christmas Tail ... Monkton Chronicles
A Christmas Tail
Monkton Chronicles
My first Christmas away from Illinois was in frozen Monkton, Vermont.
I moved here after urging by my roommate who subsequently left the material plane, leaving me no option but to carry forth our dream.
My new home was an apartment above a garage next door to a large dairy barn.
I was eager to see all the sights there, on an Addison County dairy farm as they were in 1981.
My new roommate milked cows and she left for Christmas holiday.
My inner city girl pined a little as I looked out at the drifting snow and watched the farmhands haul hay to the barn and haul the manure away.
The milk truck came.
Then nothing. No sound. Quiet...
I had never heard that before.
I went down to talk to the farmhand. His weathered face, his Vermont dialect, some words I missed,
I had to utilize what I call word averaging. Nod, Nod to get him to talk. But beware you don't want to nod indiscriminantly and accidentally agree to something self incriminating.
My questions were all about cows, what do they eat, do they kick? Are they smart?
The farmhand enjoyed being the expert and sharing his understanding of the world.
Around Christmas, the subject came up somehow.
"They kneel down," he said.
"What?" I sensed a profound moment coming...
"The cows, they kneel down at midnight on Christmas."
"What?" I said, longer, with my eyes closed, as if that could focus my inner vision.
Thus ensued a back and forth verbal dance with him playing me and me playing along.
I did not believe him...yet I did not want to refute this man, salt of the earth.
So I carried on, trying to stay warm, writing letters, trying to stay busy.
On Christmas eve, all alone,
the darkness came so early up this far north.
I had to,
I had to sneak down to the barn,
at midnight.
Why do barns look so different at night?
The creaky door handles are oiled last.
I hoped no dog would start barking.
My weak flashlight did not help much.
all the time me wondering why I was doing this.
I had to go downstairs to the main barn.
all the while my anxiety building,
it was so dark.
The cows patiently nodding in their stanchions,
chewing,
sleeping.
were they kneeling?
Well truth be told that is when I lost my nerve,
my path of least resistance was straight back out of the barn
and straight into my warm humble bed,
having faith those cows were all kneeling down
like Walt had said,
in the barn
on Christmas
at midnight.
Picasso Painting Raffled Off in Paris
【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. depict [di-PIKT] (v.) – to illustrate or show visually
Example: The painting depicts human love.
2. overlap [o-ver-LAP] (v.) – to occupy a same part or area
Example: Intersecting lines overlap.
3. proceeds [PROH-seeds] (n.) – amount of money earned; income
Example: The proceeds from the exhibit will be used to improve the museum.
4. handicap [HAN-dee-kap] (n.) – disability of a person
Example: His physical handicap did not stop him from painting.
5. sympathize [SIM-puh-thahyz] (v.) – to be concerned with others’ state
Example: Artists often gain inspiration by sympathizing with others’ experiences.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
A raffle draw for a million dollar worth of painting by Pablo Picasso was recently held in Paris to raise funds for the restoration of the ancient city of Tyre in Lebanon. Picasso is known for his Cubist masterpieces that depicted various geometrical shapes and overlapping lines. He finished his artwork titled “L'Homme au Gibus” or “Man in the Opera Hat” in 1914. An unknown donor bought the 99-year-old painting from a New York museum and gave it to the UNESCO-registered charity group called International Association to Save Tyre (AIST). Out of an estimated fifty thousand tickets released, all were sold except 10,000 of it. Tickets were sold for 100 euros or 135 dollars each on the website 1picasso100euros.com, and all the proceeds from the raffle draw were given to AIST. The institution’s goal is to give jobs to the people in Tyre, specially the women, youth, and those with handicap. Doing so will help preserve the ancient handicrafts of the city. An institute for Phoenician [fi-NISH-uh n, -NEE-shuh n] studies is also planned to be set up in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Oliver Picasso, the painter’s grandson, completely approved of the activity as it provides help for a compelling cause. He is assured that his late grandfather would also agree to let his work be raffled in the event. As Oliver recalled, Pablo Picasso was a generous man who usually donated cash and gifts to people in need. He added that Pablo deeply sympathized with others’ problematic situations. |
【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· If you were Pablo Picasso, would you let your painting be raffled off for charity?
· Given the chance, would you participate in the raffle? Why or why not?
Discussion B
· What is the importance of protecting ancient cities like Tyre?
· How can the next generation be more concerned with ancient cities?
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Ice
Ice
Ice came to the North Country this week,
We got some but north of here got it worse.
Ice is a disabling, messy inconvenience.
Once it warms above freezing,
Ice melts.
Hope people are safe
And not walking under ice laden trees,
Or slip sliding along, on slippery paths.
Or taking risks fighting ice,
Frozen water,
Hope it melts.
Ice came to the North Country this week,
We got some but north of here got it worse.
Ice is a disabling, messy inconvenience.
Once it warms above freezing,
Ice melts.
Hope people are safe
And not walking under ice laden trees,
Or slip sliding along, on slippery paths.
Or taking risks fighting ice,
Frozen water,
Hope it melts.
Social Workers in Copenhagen Wake Students at Home
【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. wake up [WEYK-ap] (v.) – to get out from sleep
Example: Rick always arrives first in class because he wakes up early.
2. social worker [SOH-shuhl WUR-ker] (n.) – people who work to improve the quality of life of others
Example: Social workers teach children who can’t attend school.
3. welfare [WEL-feyr] (n.) – a government department that serves the public’s needs and monitors moral conduct
Example: Poor families often get assistance from various government welfares.
4. extreme [ik-STREEM] (adj.) – very far from the average or normal
Example: The school has extreme punishment for students who violate the rules.
5. method [METH-uhd] (n.) – a way of doing things
Example: Research method should be scientific.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Social workers in the district of Oesterbro [OO-ster-bo] in Copenhagen [koh-puh n-HEY-guh n, -HAH-, KOH-puh n-hey-, -hah-], Denmark have initiated a wake-up call project to solve the problem of absenteeism among children in the district. A group of social workers make phone calls to check if children will attend their class. But typically, children are visited in their homes to make sure that they really wake up. The practice is targeted to students between seven and 15 years old who are often absent in school. After testing the method for one year, 33 percent of the students who usually skip school are now attending classes regularly. This improvement has made the project permanent in Oesterbro, but it is expected to be applied in other districts as well. According to Barbro Lundqvist [luh ndk-vist], a social worker, a student’s excessive absences may be a symptom of a family problem. The state’s welfare department is concerned with this problem; so, it tries to help these children with the wake-up call project. But critics of the project say that Oesterbro’s idea of welfare is extreme. Local politician Heidi Wang argued that one’s personal responsibility in the family should not be handled by a municipality representative. However, Lundqvist said that although conflicts and resistance of families are evident, social workers are prepared to handle these kinds of situation. She explained that the project’s purpose is to gradually make the parents diligent in waking up their children. |
【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you think the wake-up call project is extreme? Why or why not?
· Why do you think some students are frequently absent in school?
Discussion B
· If you were a school principal, how would you solve frequent absences of students?
· How do you think can parents encourage their kids to go to school every day?
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Travelogue for the Universe: Sparkling Snow
The snow will be sparkling.
After the storm,
.waiting for the sunlight.
Reminded me of this poem...
Travelogue for the Universe: Sparkling Snow: Sparkling Snow re-run Sparkling Snow**all rights reserved by mary gerdt It happened today, when I thought some great thoughts, th...
After the storm,
.waiting for the sunlight.
Reminded me of this poem...
Travelogue for the Universe: Sparkling Snow: Sparkling Snow re-run Sparkling Snow**all rights reserved by mary gerdt It happened today, when I thought some great thoughts, th...