BREAKING NEWS

ENGLISH
1.
8,000-YEAR-OLD ANCESTOR OF ENGLISH FOUND

I. Vocabulary
1. evolutionary a. Put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
2. linguist b. a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or
development.
3. breakthrough c. A thing that has been followed or replaced by another.
4. ancient d. Relating to or denoting the process by which different
kinds of things are believed to have developed from
earlier forms.
5. predecessor e. Settle or find a solution to a problem or contentious
matter.
6. resolve f. A person who studies language and its structure.
7. posit g. Very, very, very old.
8. native h. One of two or more people to have jointly written a book,
article, research paper, etc.
9. databank i. A large folder of computer data on a particular topic.
10. core j. Proposed explanations made on the basis of limited
evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
11. co-author k. Originally belonging to a place.
12. enigma l. A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to
understand.
13. hybrid m. The part of something that is central to its existence or
character.
14. hypotheses n. A thing made by combining two different elements.

II. Comprehension questions

1. Who does the article say made a breakthrough?

2. What do the linguists say?

3. What is a competing theory?

 4. How many people speak Indo-European languages?

5. What did Mr Gray say the Indo-European enigma lie in?

2.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO LEARN VOCABULARY WHILE SLEEPING

I. Vocabulary
1. struggling a. Trying very hard to achieve something difficult.
2. expand b. A written or spoken meaning of a word, speech, book,
or other text, in another language.
3. knowledge c. Become or make larger or more extensive.
4. deeply d. Bring a fact, event, or situation back into one's mind,
especially to tell it to other people.
5. recall e. Facts, information, and skills a person gets through
experience or education.
6. translation f. Greatly; very much.
7. aware g. Having knowledge or understanding of a situation or
fact.
8. essential h. Working and moving.
9. hub i. Give the necessary time or opportunity for something
to happen.
10. cell j. Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
11. allow k. The state of not moving or working.
12. active l. The center of an activity, region, or network.
13. inactivity m. A length of time.
14. period n. The smallest living part of a human animal or plant.

II. Comprehensive questions

1. What have researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland shown?

2. Whom did the researchers conduct tests on?

3. What is the hippocampus?

4. What is the inactive state of our brain while we sleep called?

5. How sure did researchers say they needed to be?

III. Fill in the gaps

A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary (1) __________________ sleeping. This is
great news for students struggling to learn a new language. It is also (2) ___________________ who
is trying to expand their knowledge of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in
Switzerland have shown (3) ___________________ possible to learn new information while we are
sleeping deeply, and then recall this information when we need it after (4) ___________________.
This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted tests
(5) ___________________ not a person can remember new words and their translations while they
were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much (6) ___________________ the outside world than
we thought.

Researcher Marc Zü st said, "language (7) ___________________ brain and the hippocampus - the
brain's essential memory hub - were activated" after (8) ___________________ up. He said these
areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during deep sleep. The researchers said
that during deep sleep, our brain cells (9) ___________________ a short period of time - about half a
second. The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about half a second. The (10)
___________________ called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state"
(11) ___________________ time when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say
more research is needed to be 100 per cent sure that (12) ___________________ vocabulary while
asleep.

3.

TIKTOK TREND CAUSES LAXATIVE SHORTAGE IN USA

I. Vocabulary
1. trend a. (Of a doctor) writing a note for the medicine you need.
2. medicine b. A topic that is the subject of many posts on social media
within a short period of time.
3. constipation c. A person who can change the minds of people on social
media (and get them to buy things).
4. loosens d. A drug to treat or stop disease or illnesses.
5. influencer e. Becomes more relaxed or less tight.
6. youngster f. A situation where it is really difficult to go to the toilet
because of very hard poo.
7. prescribe g. A child or teenager.
8. contain h. Be made up of a number of things.
9. weight i. Successful in getting the result you want.
10.side effect j. How light or heavy someone or something is.
11.thirst k. A feeling of seeing everything spinning around and
losing one's balance.
12.fatigue l. A bad thing that can happen to your body after taking a
drug / medicine.
13.dizziness m. A feeling of needing or wanting to drink something.
14.effective n. Great tiredness because of mental or physical effort or
illness.
 II. Fill in the gap

A trend on TikTok (1) ____________________ shortage of laxative drugs in the USA. A laxative is
(2) ____________________ people who have constipation. This is the problem of people having
difficulty going to the toilet because of hardened "poo". The medicine (3) ____________________ to
make it easier to go to the toilet. TikTok influencers are making teenagers believe that
laxatives will help (4) ____________________. The videos have been viewed over one billion times
on social media. Hundreds of thousands (5) ____________________ emptying drugstore shelves of
laxatives. This means people who really need the medicine cannot get it. Doctors prescribe the
(6) ____________________ like constipation, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Doctors and people with (7) ____________________ worried about the new social media trend.
Doctors say the online (8) ____________________ information, as laxatives do not lead to weight
loss. People should only use them after talking to a doctor. This is because the drugs do not
work for weight loss. They (9) ____________________ "water weight" being lost. Laxatives can also
have side effects. These can include headaches, thirst, fatigue, dry (10) ____________________. Any
weight lost from taking laxatives is (11) ____________________ on after having a drink. Doctors say
it is healthier and more effective to lose weight (12) ____________________. Eating more fruit and
vegetables, and exercising are better than using laxatives

4.

TIKTOK TREND CAUSES LAXATIVE SHORTAGE IN USA

I. Vocabulary
1. key a. Be likely to have or show a feeling or action.
2. way b. An organization having a particular purpose, especially
one that is involved with science, education, or a
profession.
3. institute c. A device used for observing, checking, or keeping a
record of something.
4. aging d. A thing that gives a way of doing or understanding
something.
5. monitor e. The area of differences between an upper and lower
limit.
6. range f. A method, style, or manner of doing something.
7. tend to g. The process of change in someone as they get older.
8. affect h. The state of being unable to do something.
9. drop i. An action of dropping.
10.lead to j. The action of one thing changing another thing.
11.inability k. Have an effect on; make a difference to.
12.mood swings l. A sudden change of your level of happiness, sadness,
anger, etc.
13.potential m. End in a particular event or action.
 14.impact n. Possible; likely

II. Comprehensive questions

1. What is the key for older people to sleep well?

2. What does researchers say?

3. How many people took part in the research?

4. What did the lead researcher say?

5. What can poor sleep lead to?

5.

JAPAN RELEASES FUKUSHIMA WATER INTO THE OCEAN

I. Vocabulary
1. releasing a. A factory-like place where industrial or manufacturing
processes take place.
2. plant b. Kept something for future use.
3. earthquake c. The effect of influence of.
4. stored d. A sudden violent shaking of the ground, usually causing
great damage.
5. harm e. So small or unimportant as to be not worth thinking
about.
6. negligible f. Allowing or letting something escape and go free.
7. impact g. Damage.
8. radioactive h. Officially stopped people from doing something.
9. banned i. Shellfish and sea fish.
10.seafood j. A person who campaigns to bring about political or
social change.
11.capital k. A conclusion after thinking about something.
12.decision l. The city or town where the government of a country or
region is.
13.importing m. Sending out radiation.
14.activist n. Bringing goods or services into a country from another
country for sale.
II. Fill in the gap
 Japan (1) ____________________ radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant
into the ocean. The plant was hit by a huge (2) __________________________________ in March 2011.
After the power plant was damaged, the power company (3) __________________________ in 1,000
giant tanks. The water has been treated to reduce its radioactivity. It is now being slowly
released into the Pacific Ocean through a (4) _____________________. Japan stated that the water is
safe and (5) ______________________ the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) said the water meets with (6) ___________________________________. It said there would be a
"negligible radiological impact on people and the environment".

Many people in Japan, (7) ____________________ countries near Japan, are angry that
radioactive water is going into the Pacific. Local fishermen are worried they will not be (8)
____________________ their fish. China has already banned seafood from Fukushima and the capital
city, Tokyo. China's foreign ministry called (9) ____________________ the water a "wrongful
decision" and asked Japan to stop. A spokesperson said: "Japan is putting its own self-interest
over the long-term well-being (10) ___________________". Hong Kong is also worried about food
safety. It said it would "immediately" (11) ____________________ Japanese food products. South
Korean activists (12) ____________________, although Seoul understood that the water meets
international standards.

6.

SPOTIFY WILL NOT BAN AI-MADE MUSIC

I. Vocabulary
1. artificial a. A person who is in charge of a worker, group, or
organization.
2. produced b. Put right something that was wrong.
3. boss c. Made or produced by human beings and not happening
naturally, especially as a copy of something natural.
4. streaming d. Made something using creative skills.
5. ban e. A method of sending or getting data (video and music)
over a computer network as a steady, continuous flow.
6. correct f. Officially stop someone from doing something.
7. improves g. Makes better.
8. debated h. Drew special attention to.
9. deleted i. Argue about a subject.
10.submitted j. Said no to something because it is unacceptable, or
damaged.
11.rejected k. Making an identical (exact) copy of.
12.highlighted l. Remove / erased data from a computer's memory.
13.cloning m. Difficult or problematic.
14.tricky n. Gave something to a person or body for consideration
 or judgement.

II. Comprehensive questions

1. How old is Google's Bard AI website?

2. What is the role in Spotify of Daniel Ek?

3. Which news agency did Daniel Ek talk to?

4. What did Daniel Ek say auto-tunes does to music?

5. What does Mr Ek not like?

6. For how long will using AI in music be debated?

7. What is Ghostwriter?

8. What happened when an AI song was submitted for a Grammy award?

9. What did Mr Ek say a song might be sung by besides a human?

10.What did Daniel Ek say the future of music would be?

7.

HEALTH

I. Comprehensive questions (walking 2023-08-17)

1. What does studies suggest?

2. What did researchers from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine do?
 3. What the scientists conclude?

4. What did Dr. Martin say?

II. Fill in the gaps. (2023-04-20)

a. Vocabulary
1. government a. Done, made, or happening once a month.
2. encourage b. Help.
3. pay c. The group of people who control a country and decide
how to help the people.
4. monthly d. The state of someone's mental condition staying at a
"normal" level and not changing.
5. support e. Say something to help a person to make him/her keep
doing something, or to be more confident.
6. psychological f. Give someone money for work, or for things you
bought.
7. stability g. Affecting, or happening in the mind; about the mental
and emotional state of a person.
8. pandemic h. The process of growing old.
9. reclusive i. When a disease spreads over a whole country or the
world at a particular time.
10.noticeable j. Staying away from other people; not wanting to be with
other people.
11.society k. The problem of people who hurt or frighten other
people (every day, week or month).
12.bullying l. All of the people living in a particular country or region
with shared customs, laws, and organizations.
13.payment m. Easily seen; clear.
14.ageing n. The action of giving money to someone for work they
did.

Many people around the world stay at home and do not want (1) ____________________.
They cut themselves off from the world outside. (2) ____________________ – people who do not
want to meet other people. The government in South Korea has thought (3) ____________________
to encourage these people to "re-enter society". It will pay young people $500 a (4)
____________________ their home. The monthly payment will be for lonely people aged nine to 24
years old who come (5) ____________________. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it
wants to help younger people. It said it wants young people to go out. This will support their
"psychological and (6)_______________________________________________".
 There are (7) ____________________ people not wanting to leave the house. The number of
recluses has gone up because of the pandemic. Korea says about 3.1 per cent of (8)
__________________________________. They "have (9)___________________________ living a normal life". The
government said children shut themselves (10) ____________________ for many reasons. These
include bullying, exam stress, family problems, bad parenting and technology and social
media. It said the $500-a-month payment will help these young people. This means they could
(11) ____________________ to have mental problems. They will also be healthier. Korea has an
ageing society. It needs young people (12) ____________________ they can help old people.

(2023-03-20)

1. glory a. A state or feeling of great physical or mental distress or

discomfort.
2. phenomenon b. Extend the duration of.
3. symptom c. Magnificence or great beauty.
4. misery d. The path followed by a planet or object flying or an
object moving under the action of given forces.
5. prolong e. A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen.
6. unsettling f. A physical or mental feature which is regarded as
indicating a condition of disease.
7. trajectory g. Causing anxiety or uneasiness; disturbing.
8. phenologist h. A furry (green or black) fungus occurring in moist warm
conditions, especially on food or other organic matter.
9. unseasonably i. Someone who studies cyclic and seasonal natural
phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant
and animal life.
10. meteorologist j. In a way that is unusual for the time of year.
11. prevalence k. An event that is the cause of a particular action, process,
or situation.
12. trigger l. The fact or condition of being widespread in a particular
area or at a particular time.
13. asthma m. An expert in the science concerned with the processes
and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a
means of forecasting the weather.
14. mold n. A condition marked by attacks on the lungs, causing
difficulty in breathing.

Not everyone in the world looks forward to the (1)_____________________. While many
people take delight in (2)__________________________ of newly-formed buds revealing their delicate
blossoms, others (3) ____________________________ phenomenon. That's because blooming plants
(4) _____________________________ like hay fever. The National Phenology Network (NPN) in the
USA has warned hay fever sufferers that spring has arrived up to four weeks earlier than
usual. The pollen that causes (5) _______________________is (6) ________________________________. To
make matters worse, the warmer weather will prolong hay fever season. The NPN said: "It's a
little unsettling. It perhaps isn't surprising, (7) __________________________our planet is on."

Phenologists, climatologists and meteorologists (8) _______________________ change for the

unseasonably warmer weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
reported that the U.S. winter's average temperature was 2.7 degrees warmer than (9)
_____________________ average. Lauren Casey, a meteorologist with Climate Central, told the CNN
news agency that climate change is resulting in earlier and longer seasons for plants, causing a
(10) ______________________________pollen. She said pollen was "the enemy" of people who suffer
from allergies. She said pollen can trigger asthma (11) _______________________ mold allergies.
Another scientist said: "Acting on climate change (12) _______________________ for people's
health."

ENVIRONMENT
(2023-03-27)
a. Vocabulary
1. geology a. The outermost layer of rock of which a planet consists.
2. molten b. Being composed or made up of.
3. crust c. The science that deals with the earth's physical
structure.
4. radius d. Especially of materials with a high melting point, such
as metal and glass, that are liquefied by heat.
5. calculations e. A straight line from the centre to the circumference of a
circle or sphere.
6. consisting of f. Using maths to find out the amount or number of
something.
7. fluid g. Of a substance able to flow easily.
8. intriguing h. With no part left out; whole.
9. probe i. Arousing one's curiosity or interest; fascinating.
10. flow j. The gradual development of something.
11. evolution k. Keep something in place.
12. entire l. Seek to uncover information about someone or
something.
13. retain m. Things that are accepted as true or as certain to happen,
without proof.
14. assumptions n. Of a liquid, gas, or electricity that moves steadily and
continuously in a current or stream.

b. Comprehensive questions

1. How much is known about the geology of Earth's centre?

2. What surrounds Earth's core?

 3. How deep is the core below the surface of the earth?

4. What is Dr Sunyoung Park's field of expertise?

5. What might the second core consist of?

6. What does Dr Sunyoung Park find intriguing?

7. What constitutes the largest part of Earth?

8. What does Dr Park say can help us to learn more about the core?

9. What influences the evolution of our planet?

10.What is our limited understanding of Earth currently based on?

(2022-04-07)
1. announced a. Able to be stopped from happening.
2. shocking b. A report or action of giving people the latest
information about something.
3. update c. The money a person or a country gets.
4. exceed d. Told people about something (important).
5. income e. Dirty air, water, oceans, etc.
6. pollution f. Causing a feeling of great surprise.
7. preventable g. Go above a limit.
8. fossil fuel h. Do something to make people more aware of it.
9. reduce i. Totally needing someone or something.
10.concern j. Inexpensive; reasonably priced.
11.highlight k. Make smaller or lower.
12.dependent l. Only about or using that one thing.
13.exclusive m. A thing that people worry about.
14.affordable n. A natural energy source, such as coal or gas.
 The World Health Organization (WHO) has (1) _________________________________ finding
about the air we breathe. It has found that almost everyone on Earth breathes unhealthy air.
The WHO made its air (2) ___________________________ of World Health Day on April 7. The update
reported that 99 per cent of the world's population breathes (3) ____________________ WHO air
quality limits. It looked at data from over 6,000 cities in 117 countries. People living in lower-
and (4) ____________________ breathe the poorest-quality air. Millions of people die in these
countries because of pollution-related diseases. The WHO said: "After (5) ____________________, it
is unacceptable to still have 7 million preventable deaths... (6) ____________________ pollution."

The WHO said its report highlighted the need to move away (7) ____________________. It
asked governments to do more to reduce levels of air pollution. It said: "Current energy (8)
____________________ importance of speeding up the transition to cleaner and healthier energy
systems." It added that (9) ____________________, energy security, the dangers of air pollution, and
climate change mean the world must be less dependent on fossil fuels. The WHO report
included many recommendations for change. Among these were, "the exclusive (10)
____________________ household energy for cooking, heating and lighting," and (11)
____________________ and affordable public transport systems and pedestrian- and (12)
___________________".

(2021-08-28)

1. form a. A gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, or

value.
2. artificial b. Interrupting an event, activity, or process by causing a
disturbance or problem.
3. decline c. The particular way in which a thing exists or appears.
4. hydrology d. Made or produced by human beings rather than
occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something
natural.
5. diode e. The branch of science concerned with the earth's water.
6. disrupting f. A semiconductor device.
7. extent g. The size or scale of something.
8. hedge h. Put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
9. verge i. A fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes
or shrubs.
10.taken aback j. Unpleasantly or sharply clear.
11.stark k. Likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect; radical
and extreme.
12.posited l. A grass edging such as that by the side of a road or path.
13.drastic m. Getting regular nourishment from a particular
substance.
14.feeding n. Shock or surprise someone.

1. What might be behind a fall in insect numbers besides street lights?

2. What colour light is causing a decline in insect numbers?

3. Who is Douglas Boyes?

4. What did a researcher say the results of his study were?

5. How much did insect populations decline at lit roadside grassy areas?

6. How many sites did the researchers set up beside roads?

7. What kind of insects did the researchers count?

8. How many drastic changes in behaviour did a researcher find?

9. What did LED lights stop female insects doing?

10.Where were caterpillars heaviest?