Brazil Builds New Stadium for the 2014 World Cup

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. stadium [STEY-dee-uh m] (n.) – a sports arena with seats for a great number of audience

Example: The sports coordinator is making sure that the stadiums for the sports festival are in good shape.

           

2. unique [yoo-NEEK] (adj.) – not like anything else or one of a kind

Example: The stadium’s unique architecture stands out among other building designs.

3. rendering [REN-der-ing] (n.) – an interpretation or representation of something like a building, interior, etc.

Example: The local government displayed renderings of the new sports complex throughout the city.

4. intense [in-TENS] (adj.) – unusually strong or heavy

Example: Despite the intense rain, the players continued the game.

5. cover all the bases [KUHV-er awl thuh BEY-siz] (idiom) – to deal with or anticipate all the possibilities

Example: The coach assured the athletes about the game, saying he has covered all bases.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Brazil is building Arena da Amazonia in the city of Manaus for the much awaited 2014 FIFA World Cup. City officials and the FIFA are hoping that the new stadium would draw the crowd to the city, which is known for the unique phenomenon called "the meeting of the waters." The stadium, which is set to hold 44,000 people, is located near the Amazon Rainforest and the place where the Amazon and the Rio Negro rivers meet but do not mix. Being near the Amazon Rainforest, the new stadium also has some commendable environment-friendly features. According to a FIFA officer, the stadium will utilize sun and wind energy for electricity. With all the excitement going on, many people worry if the construction can be completed on time. Renderings of how the stadium would look like are everywhere, but the stadium is far from being finished. As of August, the construction is less than 80% complete. With the intense rainy season in December, Manaus has a few months left to complete the arena. On another note, some people are criticizing the construction of the stadium as it would ultimately cost about $225 million. With this much investment, some think that the money can be better invested elsewhere. In fact, a group of protesters demonstrated this disapproval during the recent confederations cup. Many Brazilians are also wondering about what will happen to the stadium when the 2014 World Cup is done. But, the city government has covered all bases. After the games, the officials plan to use the stadium for concerts, conferences, and UFC fights to keep it profitable.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think the location of the stadium would help in attracting fans to watch the FIFA world cup live? Why or why not?

         How do you think would the new stadium help Brazil? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         Should the government spend a lot of its budget for holding events like the World Cup? Why or why not?

         Aside from sports, what other aspects should a government spend its money on? Please explain your answer.

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Artist Creates Barbie Doll with ‘Normal’ Measurements

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. influential [in-floo-EN-shuh l] (adj.) – having great influence on someone or something

Example: The influential blogger has encouraged the younger generation to feel proud of their appearance.

2. standard [STAN-derd] (n.) – something used as a measure, norm, or model to make judgments

Example: Most teenagers use the media’s high standards of beauty to know if they are pretty or not.

3. skinny [SKIN-ee] (adj.) –very thin

Example: Kathy is eating less because she wants to be skinny.

4. prevent [pri-VENT] (v.) – to keep or stop something from occurring or happening

Example: Advocates of healthy living want to prevent young girls from going on extreme dieting.

5. proportions [pruh-PAWR-shuh n, -POHR-] (n.) – the comparative measurements or size of different parts of a whole

Example: Bodily proportions should be considered when choosing one’s clothes.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Nickolay Lamm of Mydeals.com has designed a 3-D doll using the measurements of a normal 19-year-old American girl to show that the average is beautiful. Lamm created the ‘normal’ Barbie using a 3D model with the average measurements from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For the ‘normal’ Barbie’s color and packaging, the artist used Adobe Photoshop, a photo editing software. After creating the doll, he took a photo of the standard Barbie beside the ‘normal’ Barbie to clearly show the difference. The Barbie doll has been one of the young girls’ favorite toys since 1959. Despite being popular, the doll has faced different criticisms, one of which is being seen as a role model by children. According to Lamm, dolls may be influential to the girls’ development of body image standards. In fact, a research suggests that the famous skinny doll may be one of the reasons why some young girls tend to have unhealthy eating behaviors. Young girls nowadays seem to eat less or skip meals just to get a slim figure, which may then lead to eating disorders. Demi Lovato, a singer and an advocate of preventing eating disorders among young girls, supported Lamm’s intentions.  She showed her approval of the ‘normal’ Barbie on her Twitter post, which was seen by her more than 15 million followers. On another note, Lamm said that he would not mind if the ‘normal’ Barbie prototype becomes available for purchase in the future. With the realistic body proportions of the ‘normal’ Barbie, young girls may be able to realize that they are beautiful just the way they are, Lamm added.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         In your opinion, can a Barbie doll really influence young girls? Why do you think so?

         Do you think Lamm made the right decision of creating the ‘normal’ Barbie? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         Why do you think many women nowadays suffer from eating disorders?

         In your opinion, is it really important for a woman to have a slim body? Why do you think so?

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Detroit Bankruptcy Fuels Worries across the US

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. bankruptcy [BANGK-ruhpt-see, -ruh p-see] (n.) – the financial condition of not having enough money to pay for one’s debts

Example: After struggling financially for several years, the car company finally declared bankruptcy.

2. pension [PEN-shuh n] (n.) – money paid by the government or a company to someone who is sick or has retired

Example: Her father is now retired and living on the pension he receives every month.

3. downgrade [DOUN-greyd] (v.) – to lower someone or something’s rank or status.

Example: The financial analysis firm downgraded the country’s credit rating because of its inability to pay its debts on time. 

4. speculation [spek-yuh-LEY-shuh n] (n.) – the act of guessing or considering something

Example: Selling her car and other properties fueled speculation that she was in financial trouble.

5. big/bigger picture [big PIK-cher] (idiom) – a wider perspective focusing on important facts about a situation

Example: The boss told his employees to look at the bigger picture and not worry over the small and temporary problems.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Many people are now wondering whether other major cities in the US will soon face serious financial problems after Detroit filed for bankruptcy in July. Detroit has an $18.5 billion long-term debt, most of which came from program costs for retiree health care, pension, and other post-employment benefits. For the past years, smaller cities have also been filing for bankruptcy. Some of these cities are Stockton and San Bernardino in California. Also one of the cities facing financial troubles is Chicago, whose credit rating was recently downgraded by top financial analysis firm Moody's due to the city's $19 billion pension liabilities. Moody's is also reviewing other cities such as Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Portland, and Santa Fe for a possible credit downgrade. The financial troubles of local governments across the US have led to speculation as to whether more cities would follow Detroit. According to Timothy Blake, managing director of Moody's, more bankruptcy filings could follow, especially if doing so would successfully cut the city’s debt and other liabilities. However, according to Standard and Poor's, another top financial analysis company, other cities are not likely to follow suit since Detroit's bankruptcy is an isolated case and does not represent the bigger picture in the US. Jane Ridley, a credit analyst at Standard and Poor's, said that governments are willing to repay their debts and have a strong capacity to do so. Moreover, filing for bankruptcy would limit the company's access to credit markets. Filing for bankruptcy is therefore an unlikely option for most cities.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think Detroit’s bankruptcy is part of a wider problem in the US or is it just an isolated case? Please explain your answer.

         Do you think a company or city can still recover after filing for bankruptcy? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         How can a person manage his or her finances well? Please explain your answer.

         What should a person do in times of financial difficulty? Please explain briefly.

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Boutique Owners Use Truck as Mobile Store

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. overhead [OH-ver-hed] (n.) – business expenses including payment for electricity, heating, rent, etc.

Example: The lady wants to calculate the overhead first before starting the business.

           

2. utilities [yoo-TIL-i-tees] (n.) – service provided to the public, such as water and electricity

Example: The accountant noticed that the business was paying a lot for its utilities.

3. substantial [suhb-STAN-shuh l] (adj.) – in a large or considerable amount

Example: The businesswomen were happy to see a substantial number of customers patronizing their products.

4. secondhand [SEK-uh nd HAND] (adj.) – used or previously owned

Example: Buying a secondhand truck instead of a new one can help cut on expenses.

5. key [kee] (n.) – an important element

Example: Knowing the customer’s wants and needs was the key to improving satisfaction.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Owners of a fashion boutique in Old City, Philadelphia have opened a store in the back of a truck as a form of business expansion. The boutique owners, Abby Kessler and Katie Lubieski, have been running the Smak Parlour for eight years now. Because of the boutique’s success, the pair wanted to open another store that can bring their products to different places in Los Angeles through fashion trucks. Running a fashion truck can be a lot cheaper than running a traditional store. According to Natalie Nixon, director of the MBA programme at Philadelphia University, overhead of fashion trucks is a lot lower. Aside from saving the cost for utilities, using a fashion truck also does not require many employees. The owners themselves are enough to manage their inventory well. Another advantage is the cost of rental that is replaced by the cost of a parking permit, a fee that is substantially lower. While the finances needed to run a mobile store is relatively cheaper, the costs needed to start this type of business are still high. First and foremost, an entrepreneur needs a truck, which may cost from $20,000 to $30,000 for secondhand ones. After that, renovations would also be needed. Despite the startup costs, truck owners believe that the ability to bring the store to the customer is the key in successfully running a mobile store. Aside from the usual Monday to Friday service, the Smak Parlour owners are now planning to cater to people in festivals in different neighborhoods using their fashion truck.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Would you be interested in buying from a fashion truck? Why or why not?

         What other businesses do you think can be started using a truck? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         How important is strategy in making a business work? Please explain your answer.

         Aside from convenience, what other factors make a business appealing to consumers? Please explain your answer.

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Scientists Discover Possible Treatment for Down Syndrome

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

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

1. shut off [SHUHT-awf, -of] (v. phrase) – to stop something from working

Example: Shutting off a whole chromosome means removing its function.

2. revolutionary [rev-uh-LOO-shuh-ner-ee] (adj.) – involving or causing a complete change

Example: A revolutionary drug discovered in seaweed gives new hope to cancer patients.

3. defect [DEE-fekt, dih-FEKT ] (n.) – a shortcoming or an imperfection

Example: People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects.

4. prospect [PROS-pekt] (n.) – chances or opportunities of something happening

Example: Scientists are still working on some prospects for AIDS treatment.

5. leap [leep] (n.) – a huge improvement; often happens suddenly

Example: With the impressive discovery, the scientists have made a major leap forward.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

American scientists have recently discovered a possible way to cure Down syndrome—by "shutting off" the extra chromosome that causes the disease. Dr. Jeanne Lawrence from the University of Massachusetts Medical School led the research, which was published in the journal called Nature. With this revolutionary research, experts wish to further discover new treatments and give hope to children with Down syndrome. Normally, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes in a single cell, including one pair of sex chromosomes. However, people with Down syndrome are born with three copies of chromosome 21, instead of two. The extra chromosome may cause learning disability, Alzheimer's [AHLTS-hahy-merz] disease, a greater risk of blood disorder, and heart defects. The latest research used the so-called the XIST gene, which helps inactivate the extra chromosome. The XIST gene plays a vital role at the chromosome level in a female embryo’s sexual development as it switches off the extra chromosome. Using this gene, the scientists managed to silence the extra copy of chromosome 21, thus eliminating its effects and the unusual growth patterns inside the cell. Although this breakthrough raises the prospect of gene therapy for Down’s syndrome for the first time, the scientists stressed that a great deal of research is still needed to confirm if the procedure can be used for medical application. While further research is still needed, many experts think that the findings of this study can already be considered as a major leap in finding treatment for Down syndrome.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         How do you think can this discovery help the people with Down’s syndrome?

         Is it important to make further research on such discovery before using it for treatment? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         Do you think such researches should be funded by the government? Why do you say so?

         Given the chance, would you want to fund a research for such cause? Why or why not?

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