Twitter User Gives Away Money in a City-Wide Treasure Hunt

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. anonymous /əˈnɒn ə məs/ (adj.) – referring to someone whose name is not known or is kept secret

Example: He received presents from an anonymous person.

2. philanthropist /fɪˈlæn θrə pɪst/ (n.) – a person who exerts effort in supporting the well-being of others through donations or selfless involvement

Example: She is a philanthropist who travels to poor communities to build orphanages and schools.

3. riddle /ˈrɪd l/ (n.) – a statement or question that is cleverly and/or poetically worded to pose a challenge of answering it

Example: She will give special rewards to people who could guess the answer to her riddles.

4. ripple effect /ˈrɪp əl/ /ɪˈfɛkt/ (idiom) – refers to an act or event that causes a series of other acts or events to happen

Example: The mother’s simple act of kindness had a ripple effect when her children and their friends began to follow her example.

5. treat /trit/ (v.) – to pay for someone else’s food, drinks, or any form of recreation

Example: Because she has extra money, Liza treated her friends to dinner.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

An anonymous moneymaker in San Francisco has initiated a charitable treasure hunt by hiding cash in various parts of the city and posting clues on their location on Twitter. The Twitter profile @HiddenCash, which swiftly gained 97,000 followers within a week, began posting clues on the whereabouts of the hidden money in May. Those who are lucky enough to find the money get to keep the cash. The anonymous philanthropist is known only as someone who earns a fortune in real estate business and is paying it forward by sharing wealth to those in need. As of last month, random strangers have found at least $5,000 at some of the famous places in San Francisco, including the Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge. @HiddenCash would post hints of the location using creative riddles on Twitter, which added to the appeal of finding the prize. This rare act of generosity has prompted a ripple effect. Most people who found money have used it to do selfless deeds such as treating their friends and buying gifts for loved ones. @HiddenCash is planning to extend his act of goodwill in other cities like San Jose and Los Angeles. Despite admitting that the rapidly growing demand for more treasure hunts is overwhelming, @HiddenCash continues to satisfy and inspire his followers both on Twitter and beyond. The secret philanthropist said the wealthy must also try to give back to the community. At the same time, the anonymous person behind this good deed warned people not to depend on @HiddenCash to be their financial lifeline.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         If given the chance, would you imitate @HiddenCash’s goodwill in your country? Why?

·         How could you give back to your community?

Discussion B

·         What is your opinion on giving away money? Please explain your answer.

·         Why do you think some people are hesitant to be generous?

More People Are Using Heroin as Alternative Painkiller

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. painkiller /ˈpeɪnˌkɪl ər/ (n.) – a medication or treatment that relieves pain

Example: Painkillers do not usually require prescriptions from doctors.

2. first and foremost /fɜrst ən ˈfɔrˌmoʊst, -məst, ˈfoʊr-/ (idiom) – referring to the most important thing or the first thing to be considered

Example: The team reviewed the minutes of last week’s meeting first and foremost.

3. recreational drug /ˌrɛk riˈeɪ ʃə nl/ /drʌg/ (n.) – a drug or substance that is used for pleasure and enjoyment as opposed to medical purposes

Example: They were arrested for bringing recreational drugs into the party.

4. overdose /ˈoʊ vərˌdoʊs/ (n.) – the act of taking a drug or substance more than the recommended dose

Example: He was hospitalized because of drug overdose.

5. snort /snɔrt/ (v.) – to take drugs by inhaling it through the nose

Example: He had a nosebleed after he snorted too much cocaine.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Drug dependents are resorting to heroin [HER-oh-in] as an alternative to expensive prescription painkillers, a recent study discovered. According to the study’s main author, Dr. Theodore Cicero [SIS-uh-roh] of Washington University, drug addicts rely on heroin instead of prescribed medicine because of three factors. First and foremost, prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin became more expensive than heroin. Second, the narcotic is easier to ingest, making it more likely to be used as a recreational drug rather than as a medicine. Third, heroin has become one of the most accessible illegal drugs in the United States. Researchers did a survey on 9,000 painkiller addicts from 150 drug-treatment institutions across the United States. More than 30 percent of the participants were identified as heroin users. Cicero stated that the majority of the percentage claimed to be unwilling users of heroin, as they merely take the drug for its affordability and not for its recreational purpose.  Cicero indicated that one shot of heroin amounts to ten dollars, which makes it more affordable than prescription painkillers that are priced at one dollar per milligram. Because of this, heroin has gained a new generation of users and drug dealers, most of whom are in their twenties and live in suburban or rural areas. Unlike legal painkillers, heroin is not enclosed in hard capsules —making the drug easier to be snorted or injected. Cicero also mentioned that determining the dosage of heroin can be difficult since it is not capsulated. Therefore, the dangers of overdosing become more likely.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Is drug addiction also a problem in your country? Why or why not?

·         How can the study mentioned in the article help put an end to heroin addiction?

Discussion B

·         What do you think causes young people to turn to illegal drugs? Explain.

·         What can parents do to prevent their children from using illegal drugs?

Pregnant Women’s Eating Habits May Affect Their Kids’ Weight

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. tend /tɛnd/ (v.) – to be likely to happen

Example: Kids tend to misbehave when their parents are away.

2.  fixated /ˈfɪk seɪtd/ (adj.) – having full attention or focus on something

Example: My mother is so fixated on losing weight that she talks about it every time.

3. mealtime /ˈmilˌtaɪm/ (n.) – the time during which a person usually eats

Example: I need to finish preparing the food before mealtime.

4. keep track /kip træk/ (idiom) – to regularly get information or updates on something

Example: My mother keeps track of my daily food expenses.

5. compile /kəmˈpaɪl/ (v.) – to join different documents or data together as a whole

Example: The scientists compiled all the results of their 10-year experiment.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

According to research, pregnant women who tend to eat while watching television might have overweight children. Mary Jo Messito, the study’s lead author, said that a pregnant mother’s eating habits may still continue even after giving birth. Thus, if she eats while watching TV during pregnancy, she may also feed her child in front of the TV. Messito’s team analyzed data from a childhood obesity prevention project called “Starting Early”. The researchers kept track of 189 women during their pregnancy and until their babies were three years old. Provided with educational references and informative videos, these women had individual nutritional counseling during pregnancy and after giving birth.  During the women’s third trimester [trahy-MES-ter] of pregnancy, researchers asked them how often they eat while watching TV. When the babies were three months old, researchers asked the mothers how often their babies watched TV during mealtime. After compiling the participants’ answers, researchers found that 71 percent of the mothers eat while watching TV during pregnancy. After giving birth, 33 percent of the mothers admitted that they fed their babies while in front of the TV. According to previous studies, overexposure to television could be linked to obesity. In this study’s case, eating while in front of the television may cause obesity among children, as mothers tend to be fixated on the show and not notice when their kids are already full. Because of this, mothers give more food than what their children actually need. To avoid obesity, Messito believes that TV exposure while eating should be limited during a child’s early years.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you think that watching TV while eating can lead to obesity? Why or why not?

·         What do you think can be the other disadvantages of eating while watching TV? Kindly explain.

Discussion B

·         What do you think are the other reasons why some children become overweight?

·         How can parents help prevent their children from becoming obese?

Gene Found in Polar Bears Might Solve Obesity

【Unlocking Word Meanings】
　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. collaboration /kəˌlæb əˈreɪ ʃən/ (n.) – the act of working together for a specific purpose

Example: The collaboration of researchers from different countries helped speed up the study.

2. inquisitive /ɪnˈkwɪz ɪ tɪv/ (adj.) – being curious and having questions

Example: Inquisitive people often examine facts.

3. composition /ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən / (n.) – the parts or components of a whole

Example: Different species have different genetic composition.

4. cope /koʊp/ (v.) – to experience and solve a problematic situation

Example: Bears can cope with harsh weather conditions even if their main food sources are unavailable.

5. evolve /ɪˈvɒlv/ (v.) – to undergo changes and development after many years

Example: Polar bears have evolved into bigger and stronger animals.



【Article】
　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A collaboration between international scientists has led to a new discovery – polar bear genes may solve the problem of obesity. Researchers have long been inquisitive about how polar bears live on a diet rich in cholesterol without having heart diseases. Polar bears usually eat seals and dead whales, which both contain lots of fat. Because of this, half of the bears’ weight is composed of stored fat. A group of scientists composed of Danish, Chinese, and Americans studied how polar bears manage to stay healthy despite having a fatty diet. Eline [EH-leen] Lorenzen from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) said that the research team specifically wanted to know how the bears manage to survive even with an overweight body. The researchers analyzed data on the genetic [juh-NET-ik] composition of 79 polar bears from Greenland and 10 brown bears from different countries. Results showed that polar bears evolved from brown bears about 500,000 years ago. As years passed, the fur of polar bears became white and their body functions also developed. Scientists noted that a gene [jin] known as APOB is the reason why polar bears are not susceptible to heart diseases. APOB helps move cholesterol and fatty acids from the bloodstream, preventing arteries from clogging. Lead researcher Rasmus Nielsen [rahs-muhs NEEL-suhn], also from UC Berkeley, hopes that the findings can help future studies develop a way for humans to cope with obesity like polar bears do.

【Viewpoint Discussion】
　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you agree that these findings may help solve obesity in the future? Why or why not?

·         How else can obesity be avoided?

Discussion B

·         Do you monitor the fat content in the food you eat? Please explain.

·         Why is being overweight considered dangerous for the body?