Most Powerful Passports Revealed

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. global / ˈgloʊ bəl / (adj.) – involving the whole world

Example: Brazil wishes to expand its global market.

2. rank / ræŋk / (v.) – to place in a particular level or position

Example: Panama ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world.

3. visa / ˈvi zə / (n.) – an official authorization that allows a person to travel or enter a country or territory

Example: Lauren was granted her US visa.

4. hassle / ˈhæs əl / (n.) – anything that causes difficulty or trouble

Example: Traveling with a big suitcase can be a hassle.

5. residency / ˈrɛz ɪ dən si / (n.) – the time when a person lives in a place

Example: My residency in Japan ended last month.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A consulting firm has revealed the recent ranking of the most powerful passports in the world. Henley [HEN-lee] and Partners, a global consulting firm in charge of citizenship and residence planning, analyzed a number of passports from countries around the world. It ranked the passports based on the visa regulations of countries and territories and the number of countries where citizens are allowed to visit without needing a visa. The consulting firm used the Visa Restrictions Index to rank the countries’ passports. The ranking showed that Finland, Germany, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom have the most powerful passports, as their citizens can travel in 174 countries even without a visa. Canada and Denmark, whose citizens have visa-free access to 173 countries, came in second. Among the countries that ranked third were Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands, whose citizens can travel to 172 countries visa-free. On the other hand, the firm found that the lowest ranking passport was Afghanistan, as its citizens can travel only to 28 countries without a visa. It was followed by Iraq, Somalia [soh-MAH-lee-uh, -MAHL-yuh], Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territory. To avoid the hassle of getting a visa to visit another country, many people apply for a second passport or citizenship.  Depending on the country, some options in acquiring a second passport include residency, ancestry, economic contribution, and marriage. Among the countries allowing second passports are Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis [NEE-vis], and Austria.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What do you think is the importance of ranking the passports of countries worldwide?

·         If you were to apply for a second passport, from where would it be and why?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think some countries do not require a visa for tourists? 

·         Do you think your country should become stricter when it comes to accepting tourists? Why or why not?

California Mandates Water Restriction

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. restriction / rɪˈstrɪk ʃən / (n.) – a limit; a rule that controls something

Example: The camp site has pool restrictions.

2. drought / draʊt / (n.) – a prolonged time when there is little to no rain

Example: The crops are dying because of the drought.

3. mandate / ˈmæn deɪt / (v.) – to require something

Example: The law mandates that all water resources must be conserved.

4. lawn / lɔn / (n.) – a grass-covered area or piece of land

Example: The lawn needs to be mowed.

5. breadbasket / ˈbrɛdˌbæs kɪt, -ˌbɑ skɪt / (n.) – a place that produces large amounts of food

Example: My province is one of our country’s breadbaskets.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

California governor implements the first ever water restriction in the state as it faces severe drought. Governor Jerry Brown mandated the State Water Resources Control Board to join forces with local agencies and impose water reduction initiatives. Brown implemented the restrictions in hopes of cutting down California’s water consumption by 25%. The initiatives include the replacement of 50 million square feet of lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping. It also involves creating programs that will encourage people to replace their old appliances with the ones that are more water-efficient. Other large properties, such as golf courses, cemeteries, and campuses, are also required to lessen water usage. Aside from the water restrictions, the government of California is doing other initiatives to cope with this problem, a press release from the governor’s office reported. The mandate also involves increasing the price of water that people consume and monitoring of water usage by farmers. California has been experiencing drought for four years now. This drought has become so severe that Brown has declared California in a state of emergency in 2014. It is actually considered the worst drought that the state has experienced, affecting both the people and the agriculture. Drought does not affect only the state, but also the nation. California is one of the breadbaskets of the United States, as it produces two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts and a third of its vegetables. And because drought affected the supply of agricultural produce, the prices of farm products in the country have significantly increased.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you approve of the water restrictions mandated in California? Why or why not?

·         What else do you think California should do to conserve their water supply?

Discussion B

·         How can water resources be conserved?

·         Do you think the water supply in your country will still be sufficient 50 years from now? Why is that so?

Staying Up Late Affects One’s Health

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. early riser / ˈɜr li ˈraɪ zər / (n.) – someone who wakes up in the early morning

Example: My sister is an early riser; she usually wakes up at 5:30 a.m.

2. night owl / naɪt aʊl / (n.) – someone who stays up late at night

Example: Andrew is a night owl and gets very little sleep.

3. tolerance / ˈtɒl ər əns / (n.) – the ability to adjust to something

Example: Jake’s tolerance for coffee does not keep him awake at night.

4. syndrome / ˈsɪn droʊm / (n.) – a set of symptoms that characterize a disease or disorder

Example: Michelle is diagnosed with a rare syndrome.

5. tendency / ˈtɛn dən si / (n.) – a quality that makes a person behave in a particular manner

Example: Karen has a tendency to stay up all night.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

According to a recent study by Korean researchers, people who stay up late in the evening are more likely to develop health problems. Researchers surveyed 1,620 people composed of 47 to 59-year old men and women. With the use of questionnaires, researchers asked the participants whether they were early risers or night owls. The researchers also looked into the participants’ tolerance for glucose, their body composition, and other details about their health and behavior. Results showed that compared with early risers, men who stayed up late were more at risk of getting diabetes. At the same time, women who were night owls had more than twice the probability of acquiring metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by having an increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels.   According to researcher Dr. Nan Hee Kim, the explanation for these results may have resulted from the participants’ bad habits. These include having poor quality of sleep and their tendency to get involved in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, eating late at night, and having an inactive lifestyle. According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are ways in which a person can get a healthy sleep. One is to keep a sleep schedule, with the same time to sleep and time to wake up, in order to control one’s body clock. Other ways include avoiding naps in the afternoon and doing light exercises. Not having heavy meals at night will also help a person sleep better, as doing so can avoid indigestion that makes sleeping difficult.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you think sleeping late has its advantages? Why is that so?

·         After reading the article, would you now sleep earlier than usual? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         Aside from those mentioned in the article, how else can people get a better sleep?

·         Do you think taking sleeping pills to be able to sleep is healthy? Why is that so?

World Fails to Reach 2015 Educational Targets

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. quality / ˈkwɒl ɪ ti / (adj.) – being excellent or superior

Example: The university is known for its quality education.

2. opportunity / ˌɒp ərˈtu nɪ ti / (n.) – a chance to do something

Example: Kate had the opportunity to study abroad.

3. universal / ˌyu nəˈvɜr səl / (adj.) – can be experienced by all

Example: The country hopes to provide universal basic education to its citizens.

4. illiteracy / ɪˈlɪt ər ə si / (n.) – the quality of not being able to read and write

Example: Illiteracy can hinder you from getting a good job.

5. sufficient / səˈfɪʃ ənt / (adj.) – enough or providing the amount needed

Example: The budget is not sufficient for the program.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Most nations have failed to meet the Education for All (EFA) targets, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported. The EFA movement is a global commitment to provide quality basic education for everyone all over the world. During the 2000 World Education Forum in Senegal, 164 nations pledged to accomplish six education goals by 2015. These goals were directed towards expanding early childhood care and education, providing primary education to all, and promoting equal educational opportunities regardless of gender and economic status. It also involved reducing adult illiteracy and improving the quality of education. Although most countries found the goals attainable during the forum, only one third of the countries were able to reach the goals in 2015. The report found that 52% of the countries gained universal primary education, while 47% of the countries managed to expand early childhood care and education. About 69% of the countries achieved good gender ratio in primary schools and 48% in secondary schools. The student-teacher ratio also increased in 75% of the countries. However, only 25% of the countries were able to reduce adult illiteracy, while only 46% were able to provide equal access to learning. This unmet goal can be attributed to several factors. These include lack of funding, poverty, corruption, and the increasing population of the countries involved. Nonetheless, Kailash Satyarthi [key-LASH sat-YAR-ti], an Indian human rights activist, says that there are ways to help countries successfully improve their education. Among these measures are securing a sufficient budget for education, having enough qualified teachers, and not asking students to pay for school-related fees.

【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 EFA targets were achievable? Why is that so?

·         Aside from those mentioned in the article, how else can education be improved?

Discussion B

·         What, for you, is the importance of education? Please explain your answer.

·         Given the chance, how would you improve the education system of your country?