Germany Builds Longest Suspension Bridge

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. unveil / ʌnˈveɪl / (v.) – to show or to be open to the public

Example: The country finally unveiled its newest and longest bridge.

2. dizzying / ˈdɪz i ɪŋ / (adj.) – referring to something that causes dizziness or light-headedness

Example: The view from the top of the building is dizzying.  

3. firm / fɜrm / (adj.) – describing something that will not easily be moved or destroyed

Example: The old bridge was firm enough to hold the truck.

4. rush / rʌʃ / (v.) – to move with speed

Example: Everyone rushed to see the celebrity.

5. evacuate / ɪˈvæk yuˌeɪt / (v.) – to remove a person or a group from a place

Example: The police evacuated the people to safety.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Thrill-seekers everywhere can now enjoy the longest suspension bridge in Germany. The bridge, located between Morsdorf and Sosberg, was unveiled in September. It is 1,200 feet long and is located across the Geierlay [gah-yuh-lahy] canyon.  Tourism officials hope that the new bridge will aid in promoting hiking trails in the area. Their target is to have 180,000 people visit the place every year, which will boost the local economy by €2.5 million (£1.8 million). The bridge, suspended at a dizzying 300 feet above a valley, was constructed in only 130 days. It contains steel ropes on its left and right side. Since it opened, thousands of tourists have already visited the bridge. But while Germany prides itself for the longest suspension bridge, China went in a different direction and created a bridge with a glass floor. Measuring 180 meters above a valley in the Shiniuzhai National Geological Park in Hunan province, the Brave Men’s Bridge has a walkway made of glass panes that are 24 millimeters thick and are 25 times stronger than other kinds of glass. One of the workers of the bridge says that this allows the walkway to stay firm, even when people start jumping on the bridge. However, according to a recent report, tourists on social media said that they heard something crack on the bridge, which led to people rushing to get out. The Yuntaishan resort staff confirmed this story, saying that the crack was caused by a thermos that was dropped on the walkway. Tourists were evacuated, but no one was reported to have been hurt.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Based on the description, do you think Germany’s longest suspension bridge is safe? Why or why not?

·         Would you want to cross this bridge? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think this bridge would attract visitors?

·         How else do you think a place can attract tourists?

Elephants Less Likely than Humans to Develop Cancer

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. resistance / rɪˈzɪs təns / (n.) – the act of preventing something

Example: Most patients develop resistance to the disease after taking the drugs regularly.

2. puzzle / ˈpʌz əl / (v.) – to confuse or make something not understandable

Example: The animal’s human-like behavior puzzled the scientists.

3. enormous / ɪˈnɔr məs / (adj.) – very large in size

Example: The enormous replica of a dinosaur in the museum amazed the children.

4. alteration / ˌɔl təˈreɪ ʃən / (n.) – change or difference

Example: The doctor recommended some alterations in the patients’ medicine and diet.

5. widespread / ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd / (adj.) – common among a group or an area

Example: This disease is widespread among travelers coming from a certain country.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Experts have finally found the secret behind elephants’ surprising resistance to cancer. Biologists have long been puzzled by the rare cancer cases among elephants despite their large size. Some people believe that having more cells increases the chance of developing cancer, so larger animals such as elephants should have higher rates of developing cancer. According to researcher Dr. Joshua Schiffman, cancer among elephants should be widespread and they should have been long extinct because of their high risk for the disease. However, in a study conducted by researchers from the University of Utah, elephants were found to be less prone to the deadly disease because of a gene that stops genome mutation, or permanent alterations in an organism’s DNA structure. One of the study's findings indicated that a gene called TP53 helps in fighting cancer in these enormous mammals. This gene produces a protein that stops tumors from building up. Elephants have more TP53 genes than humans. This explains why elephants have lower chances of developing cancer, as compared to humans. Dr. Schiffman also said that nature has already found its own way to prevent cancer. He believes that humans can learn greatly from different animals’ cancer-fighting mechanisms. Aside from elephants, an animal that rarely develops cancer is the naked mole rat. On the contrary, Professor Mel Greaves from the Institute of Cancer Research in London thinks it is better to focus on the factors that contribute to the high risk of cancer in humans.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How can this study help humans prevent cancer?

·         If you were a scientist, which would you study: cancer-causing habits or cures for cancer?

Discussion B

·         What other things can humans learn from studying animals?

·         How can humans benefit from animals or other organisms without causing them harm?

Bacteria Exposure Can Help Prevent Asthma

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. wheeze / weez / (n.) – sound showing a struggle to breathe

Example: My brother’s wheezes woke me up.

2. expose / ɪkˈspoʊz / (v.) – to cause someone to be in contact with something

Example: Because of his allergies, he must not be exposed to dust.

3. distinguish / dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ / (v.) – to tell something apart

Example: He could not distinguish what’s wrong with his stomach.

4. limit / ˈlɪm ɪt / (v.) – to lessen or restrict something

Example: The doctor advised him to limit his alcohol intake.

5. optimal / ˈɒp tə məl / (adj.) – being at its most desirable state

Example: She will join the game while she is at her optimal condition.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Good bacteria may be the key to preventing asthma, study says. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Children's Hospital in Vancouver teamed up to examine the link between certain types of bacteria and the development of asthma. Using a wheeze and skin allergy test, they discovered that three-month-old children who lack particular types of bacteria have a high risk of developing asthma at three years old. These types of bacteria are Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Veillonella, and Rothia.  However, the same findings did not apply for one-year-old children, which implies that babies who are a few months old are more at risk. One of the possible reasons that researchers have come up with is based on the "hygiene hypothesis.” It implies that when children are not exposed to enough microbes or bacteria, their immune system will not be regulated enough to distinguish what is harmful and helpful. A few causes that limit microbe exposure in babies are when they are birthed through Caesarean section, and when they are not breastfed. Mothers who take antibiotics while pregnant also limit the microbe exposure of their newborn babies. Asthma is a condition wherein a person's lungs swell, causing difficulty in breathing. While asthma patients have been discouraged to engage in physical activity, the BMJ Open Respiratory Research revealed that asthma patients who are regularly engaged in the optimal level of physical activity were found to have better control of their symptoms, as opposed to those who did not exercise.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you believe that it is better to expose children to bacteria when they are babies? Why or why not?

·         What are some things that parents can do to ensure that their baby will grow up healthy?

Discussion B

·         What did you know about curing asthma before reading this article?

·         What do you think you can do to help those with asthma?

England May Face Shortage of Teachers

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. morale / məˈræl / (n.) – feelings of enjoyment and interest

Example: The company improved its benefits to boost the employees’ morale.

2. alarmingly / əˈlɑr mɪŋ li / (adv.) – in a disturbing or worrying manner

Example: Schools in the country have an alarmingly low number of classrooms.

3. carry out / ˈkær i aʊt / (v. phrase) – to do, perform, or accomplish

Example: The university carried out a study involving professionals.

4. balloon / bəˈlun / (v.) – to increase quickly

Example: The number of university enrollees balloons year after year.

5. stable / ˈsteɪ bəl / (adj.) – describing something that is steady or not changing

Example: Many students expect to have stable jobs after graduation.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

The number of teachers in England may decrease by more than half in two years, a new survey says. Results of a recent poll conducted by market research firm YouGov and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) revealed that 53% of teachers in England are planning to quit their profession in the next two years. Too much work and low morale, among others, stood as the two major reasons for this alarmingly high figure. Based on previous research carried out by the NUT in 2014, a number of teachers were reportedly spending around 60 hours a week at work. Aside from their regular teaching tasks, teachers are also expected to put in extra hours for grading or marking students’ work, planning lessons, managing data, organizing extra-curricular activities, and other school responsibilities. According to Christine Blower, the NUT’s general secretary, the government’s measures and policies to address teacher workload concerns are not good enough. The government’s misdirected priorities are the primary reason why the percentage of teachers giving up has ballooned, Blower said. Last July, other professionals in the education circle criticized Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, for saying that there is no crisis in teacher recruitment in England. He insisted that the vacancy rate for teachers in England continued to be stable at about one percent. Upon release of NUT’s recent poll, Gibb commented that even with the high percentage of teachers thinking to leave, teaching is still a “hugely popular profession.” Gibb also said the number of ex-teachers returning to the profession has continued to increase annually. Despite this, he admitted that the government needs to take necessary actions to tackle issues on excessive teacher workload.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Aside from low morale and a heavy workload, what else might make teachers quit their profession?

·         Aside from decreasing their workload, what other measures can the government take to ensure retention of teachers?

Discussion B

·         What do you think are the primary reasons workers quit their jobs?

·         How can a company/institution keep its employees motivated and satisfied with their jobs?