Rockefeller Family Fund Withdraws Fossil Fuel Investments

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. influential  /ˌɪn fluˈɛn ʃəl / (adj.) – having great influence or power

Example: The president is an influential person.

2. intent / ɪnˈtɛnt / (n.) – someone’s aim or purpose

Example: The chairman expressed his intent to continue with the project.

3. sensible / ˈsɛn sə bəl / (adj.) – having good sense

Example: There seems to be no sensible reason to cut down several trees.

4. trace back / treɪs bæk / (phrasal v.) – to originate or come from something

Example: Many of today’s environmental problems trace back to careless decisions in the past.

5. burden / ˈbɜr dn / (n.) – duty or responsibility, especially something that is major

Example: We all have the burden of saving the planet.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A funding organization owned by one of the most influential families in the United States is pulling out its fossil fuel investments. The Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF) has announced its intent to withdraw all of its investments in fossil fuel companies as quickly as possible. The RFF was founded by the children of the late John D. Rockefeller, who became the world’s first billionaire through his oil company, Standard Oil. Standard Oil once held 90% of the United States’ oil industry before being broken down into several companies in 1911. The RFF has invested in fossil fuel companies for many years. However, the organization said that it no longer finds any sensible reason to keep investing in fossil fuel companies as the world seeks to eliminate the use of the fuel. In the announcement of its decision, the RFF paid special attention to ExxonMobil, the world’s largest oil company. ExxonMobil is currently under investigation for allegedly lying to the public about the effects of climate change and hiding the findings of its climate change research. Notably, ExxonMobil traces back to the Rockefellers’ Standard Oil. Meanwhile, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF), another organization established by the Rockefellers, also withdrew its fossil fuel investments a year ago. RBF chairperson Valerie Rockefeller Wayne has called it a moral obligation to withdraw fossil fuel investments. She added that the burden to take action against climate change is greater for them, being descendants of the man who once owned America’s largest oil company. The RBF and the RFF are currently focusing investments on causes meant to preserve the environment, such as developing cleaner energy sources.

【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 the responsibility to take care of the environment is bigger for some people? Why or why not?

·         What can each individual do to take part in preserving the environment?

Discussion B

·         What do you think is the most serious problem that the environment is facing today?

·         If you had great wealth, how would you spend it to help make the future better?

UK Company Assures Sunny Wedding for $150,000

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. guarantee / ˌgær ənˈti / (v.) – to promise or assure that something is true

Example: The restaurant guarantees a hearty meal from their world-class chefs.

2. ideal / aɪˈdi əl / (adj.) – most favorable or desirable

Example: The ideal home for her is one with a garden.

3. in charge of / ɪnˈtʃɑrdʒ əv / (idiom) – to be assigned the care or supervision of something

Example: The wedding planner is in charge of all the preparations for the wedding reception.

4. hit / hɪt / (n.) – a success

Example: The restaurant’s sales increased because their marketing strategy was a hit.

5. side effect / saɪd ɪˈfɛkt / (n.) – a usually negative effect of something, such as a drug or chemical treatment, that is not among its intended effects

Example: Most chemical fertilizers were discovered to have side effects on plants.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

UK-based company Oliver’s Travels guarantees a rain-free wedding day for $150,000. Oliver’s Travels promises its clients a perfect wedding day, which features not only the best wedding venue and services, but also the ideal weather conditions. Oliver’s claims that it can ensure sunny skies on its client’s wedding day by using the power of science. The company has a highly-specialized team in charge of carrying out a special service called “cloud-bursting.” The team is comprised of meteorologists who would study weather patterns before the wedding date and pilots who would fly through rainclouds to carry out the task. Oliver’s Travel’s “cloud-bursting” service is more commonly known as cloud seeding. It is the process of spraying substances that attract water, just like salt or dry ice, into huge masses of clouds using a small aircraft. The spraying of water-attracting substances is done until the clouds become heavy enough and fall as rain or snow. Cloud seeding should be done 24 hours before the wedding day to ensure that the event itself would be free from rain. The company guarantees that the method is effective, except when there is a natural disaster like a hurricane on the way. The service currently covers only France but Oliver’s Travels aims to offer the service to Italy and the United Kingdom if it becomes a hit. Meanwhile, in other countries, cloud seeding has been used to prevent rains in major events. China used it during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as during several national events. Cloud seeding has no observed side effects and has been in use since the 1940s.

【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 are the most important aspects of a wedding? Discuss.

·         In which event in your life would you want to have rain-free weather? Why?

Discussion B

·         If there is a weather condition or season that you can prevent from happening, which would you choose? Why?

·         On the other hand, if there were a weather condition or season that you can prolong, which would you choose? Why?

Football Star’s Donation Upsets Several Egyptians

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. garner / ˈgɑr nər / (v.) – to gather or earn something 

Example: The actress’s beautiful dress garnered praise from the press.

2. well-meaning / ˈwɛlˈmi nɪŋ / (adj.) – characterized by having or coming from good intentions

Example: She comforted her friend with well-meaning words.

3. gesture / ˈdʒɛs tʃər / (n.) – an action done for a certain purpose

Example: She gave him a gift as a friendly gesture.

4. significance / sɪgˈnɪf ɪ kəns / (n.) – the meaning of an object, place, person, etc.

Example: The thumbs-up sign has a different significance across different cultures.

5. humiliate / hyuˈmɪl iˌeɪt / (v.) – to cause someone to feel ashamed

Example: The teacher humiliated the student for his mistake.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

An act of charity by Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi garnered negative reactions in Egypt. Several Egyptians were offended when Messi donated his football boots in an Egyptian TV show, which airs on private TV network MBC Masr. According to the show’s host, Mona El-Sharkawy, all of their guests leave souvenirs, which are then auctioned for charity. Messi gave a pair of used football boots for the auction and the host expressed her gratitude for them. However, the well-meaning gesture was interpreted by many Egyptians as an insult because of the significance of shoes in their culture. Shoes are considered unclean in Arab nations like Egypt because they are worn by the lowest part of the body and because they touch the ground. Shoes must be taken off before a person enters a place of worship or someone else’s house as a sign of respect, and it is considered an insult to show the soles of one’s feet or shoes. Many Egyptians expressed their anger on social media. One of the greatest critics of Messi’s donation was Said Hasasin, a member of the Egyptian Parliament. Hasasin said that the gesture humiliated the Egyptian people. He then offered his own shoes to Messi as an insult. However, amid the outrage, Egyptian footballer Ahmed “Mido” Hossam defended Messi. He said that shoes are very precious to footballers, and appealed to his fellow Egyptians to stop the false accusations against Messi. Messi, who was listed in Forbes magazine as the second highest-paid footballer in the world, is frequently involved in charity. He once donated 4.5 million Argentinian pesos or more than $300,000 to UNICEF.

【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 the reaction of the Egyptian people to Messi’s donation? Why or why not?

·         How do you think can Messi make up for what happened? Discuss.

Discussion B

·         What is the importance of being aware of other people’s cultural practices and beliefs?

·         What are ways to avoid offending someone with a different culture?

Aspirin Can Prevent Heart Attack

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. panel / ˈpæn l / [PAN-l] (n.) – a group of people whose purpose is to discuss, deliberate, and decide about something

Example: The panel that checked the medicine’s usefulness was composed of doctors.

2. recommendation / ˌrɛk ə mɛnˈdeɪ ʃən / (n.) – advice that encourages someone to use or do something

Example: My grandmother drinks orange juice regularly upon the recommendation of her doctor.

3. further / ˈfɜr ðər / (adv.) – to a greater extent or length

Example: The doctor further explained the risks of the operation.

4. outweigh / ˌaʊtˈweɪ / (v.) – to have greater weight (e.g. significance, influence, importance) than something else  

Example: The advantages of regular exercise outweigh its inconveniences.

5. override / ˌoʊ vərˈraɪd / (v.) – to prove that something is no longer valid

Example: New findings about the drug continue to override past beliefs about it.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

An aspirin a day may help keep heart attacks away, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF is a panel of US physicians whose task is to review the effectiveness of medication for certain diseases and to release recommendations based on its findings. The panel said that the daily intake of low-dose aspirin for ten years can help adults aged 50 to 59 avoid a heart attack. The recommendation further states that these adults must have at least a 10% risk of getting a heart attack and no risk of bleeding in the stomach and intestines. On the other hand, the panel advises people who are 60 to 69 years old to consult a physician before taking aspirin daily to make sure that the benefits of the medication would not be outweighed by its possible risks. Aspirin, which is a common pain reliever and fever medicine, has a blood-thinning feature that lets it reduce blood clots. Blood clots, which block the blood vessels to the heart, can cause a heart attack. Despite its positive effect on reducing blood clots, aspirin may cause internal bleeding to worsen. Therefore, daily use of aspirin is not recommended to those who have a history of stomach ulcer and other bleeding disorders. The USPSTF suggests that aspirin may be used to prevent the first instance of a heart attack, overriding a recommendation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 that says otherwise. The FDA’s recommendation stated that people who have never had a heart attack are not advised to take aspirin daily.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What is the importance of constantly reviewing the effectiveness of certain medications?

·         What important precautions should people observe before taking any medicine?

Discussion B

·         What are the possible dangers of relying only on medication to avoid getting a heart attack?

·         In what ways can people avoid heart disease? Enumerate.

Student Gets Into All Ivy League Schools

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. admission / ædˈmɪʃ ən / (n.) – the act of allowing someone to join or enter something

Example: Her excellent performance during the audition granted her admission to the theater group.

2. selective / sɪˈlɛk tɪv / (adj.) – characterized by having high standards when choosing people or things

Example: The selective club admits only highly talented people.

3. odds / ɒdz / (n.) – the chances or probability that something will happen

Example: You should study hard to increase your odds of passing the test.

4. acknowledge / ækˈnɒl ɪdʒ / (v.) – to recognize someone’s help and show gratitude for it

Example: The valedictorian acknowledged his parents in his graduation speech.

5. support system / səˈpɔrt ˈsɪs təm / (n.) – the people who give someone support (such as financial, moral, emotional, etc.)

Example: She turns to her support system in times of difficulties.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A high school senior from New York successfully made it into all eight Ivy League schools. Seventeen-year-old Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, Elmont Memorial High School’s valedictorian, has been granted admission to all colleges in the Ivy League, which are among the best schools in the United States. The eight colleges include Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Princeton University, Cornell University, Dartmouth [DAHRT-muh th] College, Brown University, and University of Pennsylvania. These colleges are also among the most selective colleges in the country; therefore, the odds of getting accepted into even one are quite low. For instance, only 6% of students who apply to Harvard and Yale are granted admission. According to Uwamanzu-Nna, she was initially very anxious while waiting for the results, but her anxiety was immediately replaced by great joy upon hearing the good news. She acknowledged her support system for their role in her success. Augusta comes from a family that places high value on education and hard work. According to her brother, Johnson Uwamanzu-Nna, his sister’s success was due to her initiative and perseverance. Johnson himself was admitted to several Ivy League schools and is now a freshman in Cornell University. Meanwhile, Augusta, who is passionate about environmental studies and biochemistry, has yet to decide on which college to enter. Aside from Augusta, another New York teen was also accepted into all eight Ivy League colleges. Kelly Hyles, also 17, is from the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College of New York, where advanced college-level classes are taught. Like Uwamanzu-Nna, Hyles also acknowledged her support system—her mother in this case—for her success. Her mother raised her singlehandedly by taking on two jobs. Hyles, who dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon, decided to enter Harvard.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What are the advantages of getting into a good university? Discuss.

·         Aside from a good education, what other factors contribute to a person’s success?

Discussion B

·         What impact can a supportive family have on someone’s education?

·         What is the importance of having other support systems aside from one’s family?

Uber Offers Motorbike Taxi Service in Indonesia

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. commuter / kəˈmyu tər / (n.) – someone who travels from one place to another, usually through public transportation

Example: Many commuters were stranded when the train stopped working.

2. maneuver / məˈnu vər / (v.) – to drive something skillfully and carefully

Example: The biker maneuvered through the narrow spaces between the cars.

3. patronize / ˈpeɪ trəˌnaɪz / (v.) – to be a regular customer of a store or service

Example: Many students patronize the school supplies store because of its affordable goods.

4. alternative / ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv / (n.) – an available choice that can be used to replace something else

Example: Among the alternatives to riding a bus are hiring a cab or riding the train.

5. budding / ˈbʌdɪŋ / (adj.) – starting or developing

Example: The new teacher’s budding career was full of challenges.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Uber has recently launched UberMOTOR, a new motorbike taxi service, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Motorbike taxis, locally known as ojeks, are motorbikes that can be hired by commuters for an agreed rate. It is a common mode of transportation in Indonesia, especially in urbanized regions where roads are usually congested. This is because motorbikes allow riders to maneuver through narrow spaces and reach their destinations faster. On April 12, the app-based transportation service officially joined the long list of companies offering motorbike taxi services in Indonesia. UberMOTOR is up against other app-based services in the area, such as fellow foreign company Grab’s GrabBike and local start-up GoJek. Uber, which is patronized by many Indonesians because of its cheap services, claims that it offers the most affordable motorbike taxi rate in the city. UberMOTOR is offered at a base rate of 1,000 Indonesian rupiah or roughly $0.08. But while consumers are pleased with the increasing availability of cheaper transportation choices, operators of traditional modes of transportation such as taxis and buses are outraged because the cheaper alternatives are taking them out of business. Before the service’s Jakarta launch, Uber offered the same service February this year in Thailand, calling it UberMOTO. Motorbikes are also common in the country, whose capital, Bangkok, also faces road congestion problems. The launch of the service in Thailand is expected to create thousands of work opportunities for Thais, according to Douglas Ma, Uber’s Head of Asia Expansion. However, the budding competition with traditional transportation is feared to cause conflict in Thailand, just like in Indonesia, causing the Thai government to order Uber to halt UberMOTO. Despite this, Uber continues to offer the service.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Would you avail of Uber’s motorbike service if it were offered in your country? Why or why not?

·         How do you think would people in your country react to the motorbike service?

Discussion B

·         What are the advantages of driving a motorbike? Discuss.

·         What are the disadvantages of driving a motorbike? Discuss.