“Pink Panther” Thieves Rock the Jewelry Industry

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. string [string] (n.) – a series of similar events

Example: The police are investigating a string of robberies that took place last month in London.

2. audacious [aw-DEY-shuh s] (adj.)  – extremely bold and showing a lack of fear

 Example: The men are discussing an audacious plan to steal the famous painting from the museum.

3. heist [hahyst] (n.) – an act of stealing highly valuable goods

Example: Three robbers were arrested in an attempted heist at the bank last night.

4. in broad daylight [in brawd DEY-lahyt] (idiom) – happening during the day

Example: The police easily found witnesses because the robbery was committed in broad daylight.

5. concentrated [KON-suh n-trey-tid] (adj.) – located in a single place

Example:  The jewelry stores are concentrated in the center of the city.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

An infamous gang has been making headlines around the world for a string of high-profile robberies across Europe and Asia. Named after a famous series of crime movies, the “Pink Panthers” are notorious for some of the most audacious diamond robberies in history.  They are believed to have stolen at least $100 million worth of diamonds in July 2013 alone, including some recent robberies in Cannes [kan] and French Riviera. According to the FBI, the Pink Panthers plan their heists very carefully, and are known for their incredible attention to detail. Previous robberies, for example, involved hiding jewels inside face cream containers and crashing limousines through jewelry store windows. Some incidents even occurred in broad daylight. One of their known tactics is to get rid of the stolen diamonds as soon as possible. In one previous case, the jewels showed up in the U.S. just a few days after they were stolen in Europe. The U.S. is known to be a large market for secondhand diamonds, while New York City is known as the diamond trade capital of the world. Diamond stores are concentrated between Fifth and Sixth avenues. In fact, billions of dollars flow through the area at any given time as expensive diamonds are sold or traded. Due to this condition, many jewels in New York turn out to be stolen, and are thus often sold to unsuspecting customers. After the investigations were conducted, authorities revealed that the Pink Panthers are not as glamorous as what is portrayed in films. They, in fact, live a very cheap life that mainly involves running away from the police.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Why do you think people enjoy reading stories or watching movies about big robberies?

·         How can governments discourage citizens from purchasing stolen goods? Discuss with your tutor.

Discussion B

·         In your opinion, what is the reason behind people’s desire to own expensive jewelry? Please briefly explain.

·         Do you believe that jewelry items such as diamonds and gold are a good investment? Why or why not?

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Putin Investigates Shipwreck in His Latest Adventure

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. exploit [EK-sploit] (n.) – an exciting or spirited action

Example: The adventurer’s exploits led him to the hidden treasure of Yamashita.

           

2. well-preserved [WEL-pri-ZURVD] (adj.) – kept or maintained in a good state or condition

Example: The treasures were well-preserved despite being in the sea for a long time.

3. staged [steyjd] (adj.) – set-up or rehearsed beforehand

Example: Many people felt that the unpopular president’s rescue of a little girl was staged to help him win back the approval of the nation.

4. tranquilize [TRANG-kwuh-lahyz] (v.) – to make an animal or a person sleep or become very relaxed by using a drug

Example: The veterinarian tranquilized the lion to be able to easily treat his wounded leg.

5. ridicule [RID-i-kyool] (n.) – comments or actions that make fun of someone

Example: The prime minister earned a lot of ridicule when he failed to support his political claims.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Russia's president and the so called "action man" Vladimir Putin has recently publicized the latest addition to his manly exploits. Putin has already done many different extreme and interesting activities in the past years. In fact, the very active president had already tried firing darts at a gray whale, taking a supersonic flight in a bomber jet, and racing in an F1 car through St. Petersburg. In his latest stunt, Putin plunged to the bottom of the Baltic sea aboard a submersible to examine a sunken vessel in the Gulf of Finland. His latest pursuit was broadcasted on state television. It showed the leader climbing aboard the Sea Explorer 5 underwater research vessel. The submersible explored the wooden wreck called Oleg for 30 minutes. The president praised the Russian Geographic Society, the group who has been exploring the shipwreck discovered by divers in 2003, for keeping the vessel well-preserved through the years. Putin is known to promote himself as a strong and bold adventurer, much to his own embarrassment. In 2009, he also boarded a mini submarine to explore the depths of Lake Baikal. In 2011, he claimed to have discovered two ancient urns in his scuba diving adventure in the Black Sea, but Kremlin later admitted that this stunt was staged. And in 2012, during a research expedition, environmentalists accused him of tranquilizing not a wild tiger as publicized but one from the zoo. Last year, he was nicknamed "alpha-crane" after flying a plane to lead rare birds during migration. Because of the president's fake stunts, he earned some ridicule especially from the online community.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you think it is appropriate for a head of state to engage in thrill-seeking adventures like what Putin is doing? Why or why not?

·         What do you think are the reasons why Putin engages in different kinds of adventures? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         What do you think are the characteristics of a good president? Please explain your answer.

·         Are there advantages if the president of the country is physically strong or fit? Please explain your answer.

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American Baseball Players Banned for Doping

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. allegation [al-i-GEY-shuh n] (n.) – a statement claiming that someone has done something illegal or wrong

Example: Due to allegations of cheating, sports officials are investigating the basketball player.

2. obstruct [uh b-STRUKHT] (v.) – to block or slow down the movement or progress of something

Example: The police accused the coach of obstructing their investigation.

3. doping [DOH-ping] (n.) – the use of banned drugs and other substances in order to improve an athlete's performance

Example: Doping is illegal and can be punishable by suspension from the sport.

4. appeal [uh-PEEL] (v.) – (in law) to make a request to a higher court or person of authority to review a decision

Example: Neil was found guilty by a local court but he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

5. lay bare [ley bair] (idiom) – to reveal something that was not previously known, like a secret

Example: People were shocked when the star athlete laid bare all the dishonest acts his team does to win.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, the highest paid baseball player in the US, has been banned in 211 games due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs for several years. Aside from Rodriguez, twelve other baseball players have been suspended in 50 games. Allegations against Rodriguez and the other athletes were made when Major League Baseball, the organization that governs the sport, conducted an investigation into a Florida drug clinic. The clinic supposedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs, including testosterone and human growth hormone, to several professional baseball players. Major League Baseball said Rodriguez obstructed the investigation, in his attempt to hide his violations. Thus, the officials gave him a harsher penalty. Rodriguez, who has been awarded Most Valuable Player three times by the American League, did not deny doping but plans to appeal the penalty. In a news conference, he said that mistakes have been made but he is a human being who has to defend himself. American baseball has had a lot of doping scandals. Even baseball legends have been accused in the past of using steroids and other illegal substances. However, in a 2007 report, former Senator George Mitchell laid bare the extent of doping in baseball. As a result, sports officials made stricter drug-testing rules and created a branch to investigate and punish violators. Many people had hoped that the changes would bring about a drug-free era in baseball.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you think Alex Rodriquez’ penalty is appropriate for his offense? Why or why not?

·         Why do you think some athletes continue to take performance-enhancing drugs despite the risks?

Discussion B

·        In your opinion, should famous people behave well and be good role models to other people? Why or why not?

·         Why do you think some famous people tend to get involved in scandalous activities?

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Sinkhole Swallows Up Resort Near Disneyland

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. infamous [IN-fuh-muh s] (adj.) – known or famous for something bad

Example: The rescuers were infamous for not being able to come on time during emergencies.

2. gobble [GOB-uh l] (n.) – to swallow a large piece in a quick manner

Example: The quicksand gobbled up the little bird that got caught in it.

3. cavity [KAV-i-tee] (n.) – a hollow space or a hole inside an object

Example: Sinkholes are cavities formed when the bedrock beneath the ground dissolves.

4. belongings [bih-LAWNG-ing, -LONG-] (n.) – things that a person owns

Example: When the fire broke out, the mother saved her baby and left all her belongings.

5. retrieve [ri-TREEV] (v.) – to bring back or to get back an object from another place

Example: Rescuers searched the collapsed building to retrieve the bodies of those who died.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Last August, a huge sinkhole formed under a resort in Florida, causing a building to sink and another one to collapse. Florida is infamous for giant sinkholes. In February this year, another sinkhole gobbled up Jeff Bush and his suburban home in Tampa. Unfortunately, Bush's body was never found. Sinkholes occur because the bedrock beneath the ground already dissolves but the surface stays intact. This condition creates a cavity that eventually collapses over time.  The center of the sinkhole is in a resort called Summer Bay Resort in Clermont, which is about 10 minutes away from Walt Disney World. People started noticing the occurrence of the sinkhole when a guest reported a window bursting. When a guard witnessed other windows breaking, he and other guards started evacuating the resort’s 35 guests before the whole building got swallowed up. The sinkhole was about 60-foot (18.29 meters) wide and 15-foot (4.57 meters) deep. It has swallowed one of the resort’s buildings and half of another building. The evacuation process was not easy for everyone in the resort. In fact, one family with an infant had to escape through the window because the door had already collapsed. Also, one woman, who was bathing when the incident happened, got out with just a pair of shorts. But fortunately, none of the guests were injured in the incident. While everyone was safe, no one had enough time to gather his or her belongings. According to Paul Caldwell, president of the resort, their things might never be retrieved. Because of the lost properties, the resort arranged accommodations for all the affected guests.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How would you react if you were in the same situation? Please explain further.

·         Would you book an accommodation in a place notorious for natural disasters? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         Do you think the government should provide more funding for studying natural phenomena like sinkholes? Why or why not?

·         What natural disasters often occur in your country? How do you prepare for it?

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Brain Surge May Explain Near Death Experiences

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. induce [in-DOOS] (v.) – to lead to a certain state of mind

Example: The drugs from his doctor have induced his sleep.

2. anesthetize [uh-NES-thi-tahyz] (v.) – to cause a loss of consciousness by administering anesthesia

Example: The patient felt numb after being anesthetized.

3. imagery [IM-ij-ree, IM-i-juh-ree] (n.) – a formation of visual images collectively

Example: When dreaming, the brain creates imagery of different things.

3. conscious [KON-shuh s] (adj.) – aware of what is happening around

Example: The doctor felt very conscious of the severe pain Gina is feeling.

5. hallucination [huh-loo-suh-NEY-shuh n] (n.) – an experience involving the apparent perception of something that is not real or not present

Example: He continued to suffer from horrific hallucinations.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A mysterious surge of brain activity observed in dying rats may explain reports of near-death experiences (NDEs).  About 20% of the people who survive cardiac arrest appear to have visions during a period known to doctors as clinical death. The phenomenon behind NDEs is generally characterized with a feeling of being out of body or going through a tunnel toward a bright light. To study this mysterious brain activity, neurologist Jimo Borjigin and his colleagues from the University of Michigan conducted an experiment. It involved recording electroencephalogram (EEG) signals in nine rats that were anesthetized before inducing cardiac arrest. Surprisingly, even after the animals' hearts stopped beating and no blood was reaching their brains, they still showed signs of conscious perception and exceeded levels of electrical activity in the brain. Borjigin noted that the rats' visual cortex, which processes visual imagery, was also highly activated, which may be why the NDEs are so clear. He added that the same thing would most likely occur in the human brain. An elevated level of brain activity and consciousness could also give rise to near-death visions in humans. Although the study might shed light on the human condition at the moment of death, Nicholas Schiff of the Weill Cornell Medical College does not see a direct connection between the results and the NDEs. Many scientists still believe that near death experiences are nothing more than hallucinations induced by the shutting down of the brain. According to Schiff, more studies should be conducted before concluding that a similar surge in rats’ brain activity would also translate to the humans’ case.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you believe in near-death experiences? Why or why not?

·         How do you think a near death experience can affect a person’s life? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         What do you think can happen if the brain malfunctions? Please briefly explain.

·         In your opinion, what is the significance of studying the brain? Please explain your answer.

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