【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.
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【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?
