One in Eight Scottish Football Clubs Faces Financial Trouble

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

1. financial distress [fi-NAN-shuh l dih-STRES] (noun phrase) – a situation in which a company fails or has difficulty paying its debt

Example: Football clubs face financial distress as they struggle to pay off their debts.

2. lay emphasis on [ley EM-fuh-sis on] (idiom) – to highlight or focus on something

Example: The football coach laid emphasis on the most important plan to win the game.

3. go through the roof [goh throo thuh roof] (idiom) – to increase greatly

Example:  Ticket sales went through the roof as people filled the football arena for the final game of the season.

4. worrisome [WUR-ee-suh m WUHR-] (adj.) – causing worry or concern

Example: The coach found his team’s lack of energy to be very worrisome.

5. tricky [TRIK-ee] (adj.) – unpredictably difficult; requiring care and skill

Example: Playing in the rain can become a tricky situation for soccer players.

Article
Read the text below.

A recent survey conducted by Begbies Traynor, an accountancy firm in the UK, revealed that one out of eight football clubs in Scotland is in financial distress. According to the firm, six out of 32 clubs are facing financial difficulties, while only four clubs are doing better financially. Begbies Traynor also stressed that Scottish football clubs are still in the same level of distress as last year.    Analysts laid emphasis on the Scottish Premier League (SPL), Scotland's top-level league of professional football clubs. The survey shows that SPL's attendance has crashed from 13,861 to 9,901. This drop happened after Rangers Football Club, a popular Scottish football club, moved to the bottom division last year. As devoted fans followed the Rangers, ticket sales in the bottom division went through the roof. However, Rangers’ transfer resulted to the decreased attendance in the SPL’s top division. The overall ticket sales of the SPL, while worrisome, actually improved compared to last autumn’s attendance. Analysts believe that this improvement can be a sign that the football clubs are finally coping with their financial troubles. According to Ken Pattullo, a football finance expert at Begbies Traynor, the survey implies that the football industry is starting to address its financial management issues. But, Pattullo stressed that the football clubs are in a very tricky situation and must be very careful in handling their finances if they want to return to profitability.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         Why do you think football is popular in so many countries?

         Aside from entertainment, what other good things does watching sports provide?

Discussion B

         What are some of the common reasons why people go through financial problems?

         In times of economic difficulty, how can people manage their finances well?

この記事が気に入りましたか？

Heroic Dog and His Owner Save Girl from Drowning

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

1. hail [heyl] (v.) – to passionately greet or welcome with praise

Example: Many people hailed the arrival of the firefighters who helped save the residents of the burning apartment.

2. frigid [FRIJ-id] (adj.) – very cold

Example:  Many people dislike how frigid last year’s winter was.

3. plunge [pluhnj] (v.) – to suddenly fall or jump

Example: The car plunged off the cliff, but luckily no one was inside.

4. within someone’s reach [with-IN SUHM-wuhn, -wuh n reech] (idiom) – near or close in distance (i.e. the distance that the arm can reach)

Example:  The man easily got the dog food as it is within his reach.

5. intervene [in-ter-VEEN] (v.) – to become involved in a situation so as to influence or change what happens

Example: The lifeguard intervened and swam to get the drowning lady out of the water.

Article
Read the text below.

A dog named Rocky is being hailed as a hero after saving a drowning girl in Edmonton, Canada. Rocky, a Labrador retriever-husky mix, and his owner Adam Shaw were walking on the bridge over the frigid Saskatchewan River when they heard screams. Sisters Samara, 9 years old, and Krymzen, 10, were riding a sled in a riverside park when their sled fell onto the frozen river. The ice broke and both girls plunged into the icy water. Shaw and Rocky hurriedly came to the girls' aid. Shaw was able to pull Krymzen out of the water. But, Shaw was unable to immediately save Samara because the current was already carrying her downstream. The dog then jumped into the water and swam to Samara, who had drifted 50 or 60 yards down the river. Samara held on to Rocky's leash and Rocky pulled her back towards the ice. Once Rocky and the girl were within his reach, Shaw grabbed both of them to safety. Fire rescuers arrived and treated both the girls soon after. Fire Chief Ken Block said that the girls were very lucky that Shaw and his dog happened to pass by the river and were able to intervene. The girls' mother, Miranda Wagner, said that Rocky and Shaw were her heroes and that without them, she would have lost her daughters.  The fire rescuers honored Shaw and Rocky by giving Shaw a fireman's hat and Rocky a giant rawhide bone. Shaw reflected that how he and his dog managed to save the girls is a miracle.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         If you were the girls’ mother or father, how would you show your gratitude to Rocky and Shaw?

         What do you think made Shaw risk his life to save the girls?

Discussion B

         Do you agree with the saying “A dog is a man’s best friend”? Please explain your answer.

         In what other ways do you think can animals help people?

この記事が気に入りましたか？

The First Cell Phone is Now 40 Years Old

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

1. gape [geyp] (v.) – to stare in surprise or wonder, often with the mouth open

Example: People at the convention gaped at Kurata’s gigantic robot invention.

2. portable [PAWR-tuh-buh l, POHR-] (adj.) – can be easily moved or carried around

Example: Laptops are portable because people can bring it anywhere.

3. multifunctional [MUHL-tee, -tahy FUHNGK-shuh-nl] (adj.) – capable of performing different functions and operations

Example: Customers nowadays prefer multifunctional gadgets such as smartphones and tablets.

4. skyrocket [SKAHY-rok-it] (v.) – to suddenly increase to a very high amount or level

Example: Prices of goods skyrocketed after the new tax law was implemented.

5. forgo [fawr-GOH, fohr-]  (v.) – to let go or give up on something

Example: The company decided to forgo the development of a new mobile phone due to lack of funds.

Article
Read the text below.

The first ever cellular phone has turned 40 years old on the first week of April this year. On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, Motorola’s systems operations director, made the first cell phone call to Joel S. Engel of Bell's Lab. Back then, people on the streets gaped as Cooper walked around New York City while talking on a wireless and cordless phone. The first Motorola cell phone called Dyna-Tac was a portable radio telephone that operated over radio frequencies. Dyna-Tac was nicknamed "the brick" because it weighed one kilogram and had the size of a brick. The cell phone’s battery lasted for 35 minutes and took 10 hours to recharge. Ten years after, Motorola launched an improved version of the cell phone, the Dyna-Tac 8000X, which sold for $3,995 per piece. In a 1973 press release, Motorola said that in areas installed with Dyna-Tac system, people would be able to make phone calls wherever they were. Today, people enjoy advanced mobile technology and networks. Cell phones have already developed into multi-functional smartphones with features such as internet connectivity, camera, and music player. The number of mobile phone users has also skyrocketed from 340,213 in 1985 to over six billion in 2012. More and more people are also turning their backs on traditional landline services and are instead using their mobile phones as their primary means of telephone communication. In some developing countries, companies are even forgoing the construction of landline infrastructures to focus on the development of mobile phone systems instead.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         In what ways has the cell phone changed the way we live? Please explain your answer.

         How do you think will life be if the cell phone was never invented?

Discussion B

         Do you think the mobile phone will survive for another 40 years? Why or why not?

         What features would you like to see in a mobile phone or smartphone in the future? Please explain your answer.

この記事が気に入りましたか？

US Government Proposes Brain Mapping Project

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

1. initiative [ih-NISH-ee-uh-tiv, ih-NISH-uh-] (n.) – a plan or strategy that is designed to achieve a specific purpose

Example: The president proposed the peace initiative to stop wars against rebel groups.

2. incurable [in-KYOO R-uh-buh l] (adj.) – impossible to be treated or be healed

Example: AIDS is one of the most common incurable diseases nowadays.

3. trauma [TROU-muh, TRAW-] (n.) – a physical injury to the body, such as wounds

Example:  Hector suffered trauma in different parts of his body after the accident.

4. formulate [FAWR-myuh-leyt] (v.) – to create something carefully and thoroughly

Example: A young scientist formulated a simple method of recycling plastics.

5. ambitious [am-BISH-uh s] (adj.) – having the strong need to attain a specific goal

Example: Some people end up being disappointed after being too ambitious about their future.

Article
Read the text below.

US president Barack Obama has recently announced his plan to allocate $100 million for a brain research and mapping initiative to further understand the human brain. According to Obama, the results and findings of the BRAIN initiative could help discover treatments for incurable brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and autism. The president also specifically pointed out the project’s importance in treating brain injuries and trauma, especially among wounded military officers.  President Obama submitted the budget proposal for the project to the US Congress on the second week of April. Politician Eric Cantor has already expressed his support, describing the initiative as “great science.”  Aside from government funding, the project will also draw funds from individuals and private institutions. In order to lay out the plans and the details of the project, Obama and Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, organized a team of brain experts. Neurobiologists Cori Bargmann and William Newsome will lead the team and will formulate a project report by the end of summer this year. Last year, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has spent $300 million for his own brain mapping initiative. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has also constructed a research center for brain research. Some people are not fully supportive, though. Scientist Michael Eisen has already expressed disapproval about the government-led project. Eisen criticized the project for being too ambitious and for being led by government officials instead of individual scientists.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         Why is it important to study and understand the brain and its functions?

         Do you agree that more funds should be provided for medical studies and researches? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         Do you believe that your country’s medical and healthcare system is well-funded? Please explain your answer.

         In what other sectors (e.g. education, tourism, arts, etc.) should the government allot more funds? Why do you think so?

この記事が気に入りましたか？

Hagfish Slime May Be a Clothing Material, Scientists Say

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

1. primitive [PRIM-i-tiv] (adj.) – first of its kind or coming from early times

Example: Primitive men during the prehistoric times used stones to make fire.

           

2. scavenge [SKAV-inj] (v.) – to look for food that is thrown away

Example: The poor, hungry cat scavenged the garbage bin for some food.

3. slime [slahym] (n.) – a sticky and slippery material often secreted by animals

Example: Snails leave a trail of shiny slime wherever it goes.

4. predator [PRED-uh-ter, -tawr] (n.) – an animal that feeds on or kills other animals

Example: Sharks, lions, and tigers are some of nature’s wildest predators.

5. captivity [kap-TIV-i-tee] (n.) – the state of being trapped or kept in an enclosed area

Example: The lion refused to eat while in captivity.

Article
Read the text below.

Research shows that the clothing of the future may come from a primitive creature that lives at the bottom of the sea. This creature is called a hagfish, an eel-like marine animal that has no jaws or spine. This fish scavenges the ocean floor to feed on dead sea creatures, especially whales.. Experts believe that hagfishes lived as early as 330 million years ago. The hagfish protects itself from predators by producing slime from its body. This slime covers the mouth and gills of its predators forcing them to back off or be unable to breathe. Scientists believe the slime that a hagfish produces can be turned into clothing like tights, breathable athletic wear or bullet proof vests. A hagfish has about a hundred glands along the side of its body that produce milky and sticky slime. This slime is composed of strong fiber that expands when mixed with seawater and becomes silky when stretched and dried. Hagfish slime can be a good alternative to man-made fibers like nylon or spandex, which come from a non-renewable source. However, scientists still need to figure out how to produce hagfish slime in large quantities. Today, no one has been able to breed hagfish in captivity, making the formation of hagfish farms highly unlikely. But, scientists are trying to artificially replicate the proteins found in hagfish slime with a method similar to what was used to imitate spider silk before.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         Would you buy clothes made of hagfish slime? Why or why not?

         What do you think are the advantages of using hagfish slime in clothing production? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         Which do you think is better: clothes made of natural materials or clothes from artificial materials? Please explain your answer.

         In your opinion, why do scientists want to replace artificial and non-renewable clothing materials?

この記事が気に入りましたか？