Shell Hit Its Biggest Net Loss

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. incur / ɪnˈkɜr / (v.) – to receive or be exposed to something

Example: I incurred a penalty after failing to pay my taxes on time.

2. withdraw / wɪðˈdrɔ / (v.) – to remove from someone or something

Example: The shareholders plan to withdraw their investments from the company.

3. takeover / ˈteɪkˌoʊ vər / (n.) – the state in which a company is bought and controlled by another company

Example: The CEO’s attempt for a takeover of the popular social media company failed.

4. profitable / ˈprɒf ɪ tə bəl / (adj.) – able to bring in money

Example:  The airline quickly became profitable after hiring a popular actor for its ads.

5. portion / ˈpɔr ʃən / (n.) – a part or piece of something

Example: A small portion of the company’s sales goes to its chosen charity.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Cancellation of major projects and a drop in oil prices caused Royal Dutch Shell to incur losses for this year’s third quarter. The European oil giant, known more commonly as Shell, announced in October its biggest net loss for the past 16 years. The company reported that it cost them US$8.6 billion to discontinue big projects, such as drilling off the coast of Alaska and its heavy oil-sands project in Canada. According to the company, the lack of operational facilities and the need to manage limited costs because of the recent decline in oil prices are the major reasons for withdrawing the projects. Shell’s chief executive Ben van Beurden said that these decisions were difficult yet critical for the company. Next year, Shell’s takeover of British multinational oil and gas company BG Group will be completed. According to Van Beurden, this move can help Shell to focus on fewer but more profitable projects. As of September 2015, Shell’s market value hit the lowest spot amid its ongoing deal with the BG Group. Shares of Shell experienced a 1.5% drop in the latter part of October 2015. The company is also one of the oil firms to announce plans to reduce investment towards the end of this year. Other oil companies that cut back on their spending include BP Global and Statoil. Despite its huge losses and its move to cut back on spending, Shell will still give its shareholders their portion of the company’s profit.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you agree with Shell’s decision to discontinue some of their biggest projects? Why or why not?

·         Aside from focusing on smaller but more profitable projects, how else can Shell recover?

Discussion B

·         Is the oil and gas industry profitable in your country? Why or why not?

·         If you could invest in any industry in your country, what would it be? Why?

ANA Dominates Japan's Airline Industry

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. earnings /ˈɜr nɪŋz/ (n.) – money earned

Example: My earnings this month are smaller compared to last month.

2. dominant /ˈdɒm ə nənt/ (adj.) – controlling or powerful

Example: International companies tend to be dominant in many industries.

3. rebound /ˈriˈbaʊnd/ (v.) – to recover from a bad state

Example: He rebounded from being fired from his company by starting his own business.

4. bankruptcy /ˈbæŋk rʌpt si / (n.) – a state of having no money

Example: Don’t invest your money in that company; it’s about to enter bankruptcy.

5. expense /ɪkˈspɛns/ (n.) – something on which money is used or spent

Example: The new computer was a great expense.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) came out on top of Japan's airline industry in October 2015. ANA's net profit rose by 51% in the six months before October, as the profit of its parent company, ANA Holdings, reached 53.97 billion yen. With these earnings, ANA succeeded over both Japan Airlines (JAL) and Skymark Airlines, the two other major players in Japan's airline industry. To reach its dominant position, ANA treated its two competitors differently. ANA chose to continue its rivalry with JAL, which rebounded in the past from bankruptcy thanks to government intervention. On the other hand, ANA decided to buy a stake in Skymark Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January. The possible causes for the rise in ANA's profits are the jump in Japan’s inbound tourism and the fall in oil prices. This is because an increase in foreign visitors means more passengers for airlines, while a decrease in oil prices means a decrease in an airline's biggest expense. The boost in tourists can be linked to the weakening yen, which enables foreigners to afford expenses when they travel to Japan. Also, the expansion of landing slots in Tokyo's Haneda airport gives more opportunities for business trips. ANA already has a plan to ensure that it will remain at the top. In addition to making a deal with Skymark Airlines, ANA aims to attract more Chinese tourists to Japan by adding flights between airports in China and Haneda.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How will consumers benefit from tight competition among large companies, such as ANA, JAL, and Skymark Airlines?

·         What do you think would happen if Japan had only one airline?

Discussion B

·         How do you think your country can attract more tourists?

·         In what situations would a country want to decrease the number of its tourists?

Researchers Make New Attempt to Scan Pyramids

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. scan /skæn/ (v.) – to use a form of technology to see the inside of an object or a body

Example: Our new machine can scan the foundations of buildings for weaknesses.

2. enable /ɛnˈeɪ bəl/ (v.) – to give power or ability to do something

Example: Smartphones enable you to connect to the Internet wherever there is a signal. 

3. spiral /ˈspaɪ rəl/ (adj.) – describing anything with a circle-like shape with lines turning inwards into smaller circles

Example: The ramen topping called naruto has a pink spiral design in the middle.

4. employ /ɛmˈplɔɪ/ (v.) – to use or apply

Example: The doctors employed X-ray and ultrasound technology to find out what was wrong with the patient.

5. legendary /ˈlɛdʒ ənˌdɛr I/ (adj.) – famous or celebrated, especially in old stories

Example: Some early scientists became legendary because of their contributions.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Researchers launched a new attempt to scan Egypt's pyramids in October 2015. The project, dubbed Scan Pyramids, will be a joint effort by scientists from Egypt, Japan, Canada, France, and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. The study was conducted in four pyramids, two in Giza and two in Dahshur. The two in Giza are Khufu's Pyramid, also known as the Great Pyramid, and Khafre's Pyramid, which was built by the son of Khufu. The two in Dahshur are the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. Over the years, the technology used in the explorations into the Pyramids advanced, and experts were able to know more about what is inside. In 1999, 3D modeling technology enabled researchers to see a spiral structure inside the pyramids. In 2000, radar was used to have a look inside the corridors in Khufu's Pyramid. In 2015, scientists employed infrared and other new technology in their latest bid to unlock the mysteries of the pyramids. The scientists used infrared thermography, cosmic-ray muons, drone-mounted scanners, and 3D reconstruction during their investigation. These technologies are all cutting-edge and non-destructive, since the scientists want to know more about the pyramids without destroying them. With these technologies, scientists hope to find more hidden chambers in the pyramids, such as the tomb of legendary Queen Nefertiti. The Scan Pyramids project is estimated to finish in late 2016. If successful, the results will aid scientists in determining why and how the pyramids were built in the first place.

【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 will be the benefits of knowing about what is inside Egyptian pyramids?

·         Given the chance, would you like to go inside the pyramids? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What are some old structures found in your country?

·         What do these old structures say about the history of your country?

Hollywood Productions: Australia’s Latest Claim to Fame

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. ideal /aɪˈdi əl/ (adj.) – best or excellent

Example: Celebrities seem to live ideal lifestyles.

2. film /fɪlm/ (v.) – to record with a video camera

Example: A short commercial was filmed in the mall.

3. screenplay /ˈskrinˌpleɪ/ (n.) – a movie’s script that includes instructions for actors and directors

Example: The author of the book was asked to write the screenplay for the movie version.

4. departure /dɪˈpɑr tʃər/ (n.) – a change or turning away from what is standard

Example: His books were a departure from typical romance novels.

5. claim to fame /kleɪm tə feɪm/ (idiom.) – the reason for a person or place being famous

Example: Her claim to fame is an appearance in a drama movie last year.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Australia is being noticed as an ideal place for Hollywood productions. The Land Down Under is recently becoming popular for Hollywood movies. Among the movies that were filmed there are Crocodile Dundee (1986), Street Fighter (1994), Peter Pan (2003), and San Andreas (2015). Earlier this year, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, finished filming in Queensland, Australia. Three more are expected to be filmed next year: the latest installment in Ridley Scott's Alien series, Marvel’s third Thor film, and Kong: Skull Island. Filming for the latest King Kong movie will take place at Village Roadshow Studios at Oxenford, near the Gold Coast, and all throughout southeast Queensland. This movie will star John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson and will be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts [JAWR-dn voht ROB-erts]. Its screenplay will be written by Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly, John Gatins, and Dan Gilroy. As a departure from previous remakes which focus on the title character's violence in New York City, the latest remake will focus on the origins of the monster gorilla. Reportedly, filming it will create 60 local jobs in Australia and will cost AU$15 million.   As the filming of Kong: Skull Island demonstrates, big-budget Hollywood productions in Australia benefit the country in three ways. First, they are a new source of cash. Second, they create new jobs and opportunities. Third, they improve the reputation of the country in film production. Screen Queensland's head Tracey Vieira said that the latest King Kong production will attract international attention, securing Australia’s recent claim to fame as an ideal place for Hollywood movies.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What Hollywood movies have been filmed in your country? Enumerate and describe.

·         Would you like more Hollywood movies to be filmed in your country in the future? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What do you think the world would be like if movies didn’t exist? Please elaborate.

·         Given the chance, what kind of movie would you want to make? Please explain your answer.