Japan releases Fukushima water into the ocean ☢️
(News is dated 24th August 2023)
Japan has started releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The plant was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. After the power plant was damaged, the power company stored radioactive water 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 long sea tunnel. Japan stated that the water is safe and would not harm the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the water meets with international safety standards. It said there would be a "negligible radiological impact on people and the environment".
Many people in Japan, as well as countries near Japan, are angry that radioactive water is going into the Pacific. Local fishermen are worried they will not be able to sell their fish. China has already banned seafood from Fukushima and the capital city, Tokyo. China's foreign ministry called the release of 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 of all humankind". Hong Kong is also worried about food safety. It said it would "immediately" stop importing some Japanese food products. South Korean activists have also protested, although Seoul understood that the water meets international standards.
release water — спускать воду
nuclear power plant — атомная электростанция
hit by earthquake — пострадать от землетрясения
store water — хранить воду
giant tanks — гигантские цистерны
has been treated — была обработана
meet with standards — соответствовать стандартам
negligible radiological impact — незначительное радиологическое воздействие
as well as — так же, как / равно как
spokesperson — представитель
long-term well-being of all humankind — благосостояние всего человечества в долгосроке
immediately stop — немедленно остановиться
#Milingo_Reading
(News is dated 24th August 2023)
Japan has started releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The plant was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. After the power plant was damaged, the power company stored radioactive water 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 long sea tunnel. Japan stated that the water is safe and would not harm the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the water meets with international safety standards. It said there would be a "negligible radiological impact on people and the environment".
Many people in Japan, as well as countries near Japan, are angry that radioactive water is going into the Pacific. Local fishermen are worried they will not be able to sell their fish. China has already banned seafood from Fukushima and the capital city, Tokyo. China's foreign ministry called the release of 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 of all humankind". Hong Kong is also worried about food safety. It said it would "immediately" stop importing some Japanese food products. South Korean activists have also protested, although Seoul understood that the water meets international standards.
release water — спускать воду
nuclear power plant — атомная электростанция
hit by earthquake — пострадать от землетрясения
store water — хранить воду
giant tanks — гигантские цистерны
has been treated — была обработана
meet with standards — соответствовать стандартам
negligible radiological impact — незначительное радиологическое воздействие
as well as — так же, как / равно как
spokesperson — представитель
long-term well-being of all humankind — благосостояние всего человечества в долгосроке
immediately stop — немедленно остановиться
#Milingo_Reading
Fatigue and sleeplessness are on the rise (Упадок сил и бессонница на подъеме) 📰
(News is dated 6th November 2023)
In today's hectic world, we experience tiredness and fatigue. There is an increase in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – a disorder that makes us feel fatigued. It does not go away even if we rest. A sleep specialist said our lives are full of "constant connectivity, high stress and inadequate sleep". Furthermore, a nutritionist said people with CFS suffer from a lack of energy that affects their daily life. There is no cure for CFS, but a good diet helps to manage symptoms.
A specialist in preventative medicine said we can deal with fatigue and a lack of sleep in three steps. Step one is to turn off lights. Light keeps our brain active, especially blue light from phones. The second step is to keep a room temperature at 19ºC. A cool room helps to reduce body temperature, which helps sleep. The final step is to reduce noise. As for food, a life coach recommended we eat bananas to help us get a better night's rest.
hectic — беспокойный
fatigue — упадок сил
disorder — расстройство
connectivity — взаимодействие
lack of (smth) — нехватка (чего-то)
preventative medicine — профилактическая медицина
#Milingo_Reading
(News is dated 6th November 2023)
In today's hectic world, we experience tiredness and fatigue. There is an increase in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – a disorder that makes us feel fatigued. It does not go away even if we rest. A sleep specialist said our lives are full of "constant connectivity, high stress and inadequate sleep". Furthermore, a nutritionist said people with CFS suffer from a lack of energy that affects their daily life. There is no cure for CFS, but a good diet helps to manage symptoms.
A specialist in preventative medicine said we can deal with fatigue and a lack of sleep in three steps. Step one is to turn off lights. Light keeps our brain active, especially blue light from phones. The second step is to keep a room temperature at 19ºC. A cool room helps to reduce body temperature, which helps sleep. The final step is to reduce noise. As for food, a life coach recommended we eat bananas to help us get a better night's rest.
hectic — беспокойный
fatigue — упадок сил
disorder — расстройство
connectivity — взаимодействие
lack of (smth) — нехватка (чего-то)
preventative medicine — профилактическая медицина
#Milingo_Reading
World population has passed 8 billion — Мировое население превысило 8 миллиардов (13th November 2023) 📰
Level: Intermediate
The world reached a worrying demographic milestone. The US Census Bureau said the population passed 8 billion in September. However, it said this was a rough guess. The exact time could be a month or two earlier. The world population will continue to grow steadily. It grew from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two decades. The population doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing because of falling birth rates.
The slowdown in population growth is due to lower fertility rates. The Bureau said the population would be 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "Population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, mortality and migration.…[Most] of the earth's population reside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."
milestone — рубеж
rough guess — грубое предположение
grow steadily — расти стабильно
birth / fertility rates — уровень рождаемости
mortality — смертность
reside — проживать
replacement level — уровень воспроизводства (населения)
#Milingo_Reading
Level: Intermediate
The world reached a worrying demographic milestone. The US Census Bureau said the population passed 8 billion in September. However, it said this was a rough guess. The exact time could be a month or two earlier. The world population will continue to grow steadily. It grew from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two decades. The population doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing because of falling birth rates.
The slowdown in population growth is due to lower fertility rates. The Bureau said the population would be 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "Population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, mortality and migration.…[Most] of the earth's population reside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."
milestone — рубеж
rough guess — грубое предположение
grow steadily — расти стабильно
birth / fertility rates — уровень рождаемости
mortality — смертность
reside — проживать
replacement level — уровень воспроизводства (населения)
#Milingo_Reading
News in English 🗞
265-year-old love letters opened for first time (9th November 2023)
Level: Pre-intermediate
For 265 years, 104 letters written to French sailors sat on a shelf in the U.K. They were never opened. They have just been read for the first time. The letters were on a French warship captured by Britain in 1758. The French sailors did not have time to open and read their mail. The letters were put in storage in an archive and forgotten about. They gathered dust for two and a half centuries. A researcher said many of the letters were love letters.
A group of researchers studied the letters. They said the writing gave a rare look back into history. The writers were rich and poor. They were fiancés, parents, siblings and wives. They all had different levels of literacy. A researcher said the letters showed how we manage things like pandemics and wars. He said the letters were similar to what people write about today. They were about staying in touch, caring for people, and keeping passion alive.
sailor — моряк
warship — военный корабль
capture — захватывать
storage — хранилище
gather dust — пылиться, собирать пыль
fiancé — жених
levels of literacy — уровень грамотности
keep passion alive — сохранить страсть
#Milingo_Reading
265-year-old love letters opened for first time (9th November 2023)
Level: Pre-intermediate
For 265 years, 104 letters written to French sailors sat on a shelf in the U.K. They were never opened. They have just been read for the first time. The letters were on a French warship captured by Britain in 1758. The French sailors did not have time to open and read their mail. The letters were put in storage in an archive and forgotten about. They gathered dust for two and a half centuries. A researcher said many of the letters were love letters.
A group of researchers studied the letters. They said the writing gave a rare look back into history. The writers were rich and poor. They were fiancés, parents, siblings and wives. They all had different levels of literacy. A researcher said the letters showed how we manage things like pandemics and wars. He said the letters were similar to what people write about today. They were about staying in touch, caring for people, and keeping passion alive.
sailor — моряк
warship — военный корабль
capture — захватывать
storage — хранилище
gather dust — пылиться, собирать пыль
fiancé — жених
levels of literacy — уровень грамотности
keep passion alive — сохранить страсть
#Milingo_Reading
News in English 📰
"New Year's resolutions difficult to keep."🎄
Level: Intermediate
The New Year is when we make plans to change our life for the better over the next twelve months. A psychiatry professor said: "January 1 is a 'magical' date and a vow made on this day is much more powerful than one made on August 26, for example." Unfortunately, most of our promises to quit, start or change things are, more often than not, broken by January 31st. They are usually identical to resolutions that were not fulfilled from the previous years. People tend to make the same resolutions year after year, even though they have a hard time keeping them.
Around 45 per cent of us make a New Year’s resolution. The most common ones are to lose weight, volunteer to help others, quit smoking, save money, and get fit. Others include eating healthier food, drinking less alcohol, and going on trips. Research shows that most of us do not stick to these. A study found that 71 per cent of us stick to our promises for the first two weeks, but six months later, less than 50 per cent are on track. Most people give up because they have a lack of willpower. They also use the 'escape clause' that they will 'try again next year'.
New Year's resolutions — Новогодние обещания (Обещание начать новую жизнь, порвать с вредными привычками, принимаемое 1 января),
change life for the better — изменить жизнь к лучшему,
vow — обещание, клятва,
more often than not — как правило,
fulfill — выполнять,
lose weight — сбросить вес,
get fit — прийти в форму,
stick to promises — придерживаться обещаний,
a lack of willpower — нехватка силы воли,
escape clause — освобождение от обязательств.
#Milingo_Reading
"New Year's resolutions difficult to keep."🎄
Level: Intermediate
The New Year is when we make plans to change our life for the better over the next twelve months. A psychiatry professor said: "January 1 is a 'magical' date and a vow made on this day is much more powerful than one made on August 26, for example." Unfortunately, most of our promises to quit, start or change things are, more often than not, broken by January 31st. They are usually identical to resolutions that were not fulfilled from the previous years. People tend to make the same resolutions year after year, even though they have a hard time keeping them.
Around 45 per cent of us make a New Year’s resolution. The most common ones are to lose weight, volunteer to help others, quit smoking, save money, and get fit. Others include eating healthier food, drinking less alcohol, and going on trips. Research shows that most of us do not stick to these. A study found that 71 per cent of us stick to our promises for the first two weeks, but six months later, less than 50 per cent are on track. Most people give up because they have a lack of willpower. They also use the 'escape clause' that they will 'try again next year'.
New Year's resolutions — Новогодние обещания (Обещание начать новую жизнь, порвать с вредными привычками, принимаемое 1 января),
change life for the better — изменить жизнь к лучшему,
vow — обещание, клятва,
more often than not — как правило,
fulfill — выполнять,
lose weight — сбросить вес,
get fit — прийти в форму,
stick to promises — придерживаться обещаний,
a lack of willpower — нехватка силы воли,
escape clause — освобождение от обязательств.
#Milingo_Reading
News in English 📰
Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes (28th December 2023)
Level: Intermediate
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."
organizations teamed up — организации объединились
humpback whale — горбатый кит
respond — ответить
to chat — разговаривать
match the intervals — сопоставить интервалы
diverse intelligences — множество разумных созданий
#Milingo_Reading
Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes (28th December 2023)
Level: Intermediate
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."
organizations teamed up — организации объединились
humpback whale — горбатый кит
respond — ответить
to chat — разговаривать
match the intervals — сопоставить интервалы
diverse intelligences — множество разумных созданий
#Milingo_Reading
🗞️News in English:
Love is a drug called dopamine, say scientists (15th January 2024)
Level: Intermediate
Writers have long-claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have gone a step further to prove this. They did tests on the relationships of prairie voles. Different pairs of voles were tested for levels of dopamine, which plays a role in our seeking pleasure. The researchers said the voles released a lot of dopamine when they were with their "established partner". Parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a glow stick" when they saw their mates.
The study shows how complex human relationships are. It says dopamine is released when we fall in love. A researcher said: "Our entire social world is…defined by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "Certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain." Research also suggests that women get over breakups faster than men.
Long-claim — долго утверждать
Prairie voles — мыши-полевки
Seek pleasure — искать удовольствие
Established partner — давний партнер
Like a glow stick — как светящаяся палочка
Fall in love — влюбиться
Different degrees of selective desire to interact — различные степени выборочного желания взаимодействовать
Unique chemical imprint — уникальный химический отпечаток
Get over breakups — пережить расставание
#milingo_reading
Love is a drug called dopamine, say scientists (15th January 2024)
Level: Intermediate
Writers have long-claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have gone a step further to prove this. They did tests on the relationships of prairie voles. Different pairs of voles were tested for levels of dopamine, which plays a role in our seeking pleasure. The researchers said the voles released a lot of dopamine when they were with their "established partner". Parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a glow stick" when they saw their mates.
The study shows how complex human relationships are. It says dopamine is released when we fall in love. A researcher said: "Our entire social world is…defined by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "Certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain." Research also suggests that women get over breakups faster than men.
Long-claim — долго утверждать
Prairie voles — мыши-полевки
Seek pleasure — искать удовольствие
Established partner — давний партнер
Like a glow stick — как светящаяся палочка
Fall in love — влюбиться
Different degrees of selective desire to interact — различные степени выборочного желания взаимодействовать
Unique chemical imprint — уникальный химический отпечаток
Get over breakups — пережить расставание
#milingo_reading
🗞News in English: AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts (1st April 2024)
ИИ - угроза на уровне вымирания, утверждают исследования экспертов.
Level: Intermediate
Artificial intelligence is an existential threat. So says a U.S. report, which painted a worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity. It identified a "growing risk to national security". The report said there was a "clear and urgent need" for the government to intervene "quickly and decisively". It said AI could destabilize global security, "in ways reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons". It called for the regulation of AI companies.
The report was commissioned by the U.S. State Department. Experts spoke at length to AI companies like OpenAI and Google. The experts recommended upper limits on the amount of computing power for an AI model. They also recommended making it illegal to reveal the coding behind AI. The Futurism.com website spoke to researchers who said: "There's a five per cent chance that humans will be driven to extinction."
Artificial intelligence — искусственный интеллект
Existential threat — угроза существованию
Intervene — вмешиваться
Reminiscent of — напоминать (что-то)
Introduction of nuclear weapons — появление ядерного оружия
Call for smth — призывать к чему-то
Amount of computing power — количество вычислительной мощности
❓What do you think about AI? Do you consider AI to be the global threat?
#Milingo_Reading
ИИ - угроза на уровне вымирания, утверждают исследования экспертов.
Level: Intermediate
Artificial intelligence is an existential threat. So says a U.S. report, which painted a worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity. It identified a "growing risk to national security". The report said there was a "clear and urgent need" for the government to intervene "quickly and decisively". It said AI could destabilize global security, "in ways reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons". It called for the regulation of AI companies.
The report was commissioned by the U.S. State Department. Experts spoke at length to AI companies like OpenAI and Google. The experts recommended upper limits on the amount of computing power for an AI model. They also recommended making it illegal to reveal the coding behind AI. The Futurism.com website spoke to researchers who said: "There's a five per cent chance that humans will be driven to extinction."
Artificial intelligence — искусственный интеллект
Existential threat — угроза существованию
Intervene — вмешиваться
Reminiscent of — напоминать (что-то)
Introduction of nuclear weapons — появление ядерного оружия
Call for smth — призывать к чему-то
Amount of computing power — количество вычислительной мощности
❓What do you think about AI? Do you consider AI to be the global threat?
#Milingo_Reading
🗞News in English: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is 200 years old
level: intermediate
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been played in Vienna to mark the 200th anniversary of its first performance. The premiere of Beethoven's masterpiece took place at a theatre in Austria's capital city on the 7th of May, 1824. Vienna is the city where the German composer lived and worked for much of his life. He composed many of his most famous works there. The anniversary performance earlier this week was conducted by the world-famous Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. A member of the choir told the BBC how happy she was to sing in the 200-year celebration. She said: "It's the whole world to us to be able to sing this wonderful message of love. You're lifted up…when you're singing."
The Ninth Symphony is believed to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. It is also one of the most played and most widely-recognized classical works. The symphony's final part – the fourth movement – is called Ode to Joy. This was revolutionary 200 years ago because it used solo voices and a choir. An adapted version of Ode to Joy is the anthem of the European Union. It is loved and played by orchestras worldwide. In Japan, it is sung each December by a choir of 10,000 singers. The Ode represents peace and international understanding. Heidrun Irene Mittermair, a singer in a Viennese choir, called Beethoven's Ninth, "a wonderful message of love". She added that it "moves from the darkness to the light".
Mark the 200th anniversary — отметить 200-летнюю годовщину
Masterpiece — шедевр, произведение искусства
Composer — композитор
Conductor — дирижер
Member of the choir — член хора
To be lifted up — быть возвышенным
Anthem — гимн
Represent peace — символизировать мир
#Milingo_Reading
level: intermediate
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been played in Vienna to mark the 200th anniversary of its first performance. The premiere of Beethoven's masterpiece took place at a theatre in Austria's capital city on the 7th of May, 1824. Vienna is the city where the German composer lived and worked for much of his life. He composed many of his most famous works there. The anniversary performance earlier this week was conducted by the world-famous Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. A member of the choir told the BBC how happy she was to sing in the 200-year celebration. She said: "It's the whole world to us to be able to sing this wonderful message of love. You're lifted up…when you're singing."
The Ninth Symphony is believed to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. It is also one of the most played and most widely-recognized classical works. The symphony's final part – the fourth movement – is called Ode to Joy. This was revolutionary 200 years ago because it used solo voices and a choir. An adapted version of Ode to Joy is the anthem of the European Union. It is loved and played by orchestras worldwide. In Japan, it is sung each December by a choir of 10,000 singers. The Ode represents peace and international understanding. Heidrun Irene Mittermair, a singer in a Viennese choir, called Beethoven's Ninth, "a wonderful message of love". She added that it "moves from the darkness to the light".
Mark the 200th anniversary — отметить 200-летнюю годовщину
Masterpiece — шедевр, произведение искусства
Composer — композитор
Conductor — дирижер
Member of the choir — член хора
To be lifted up — быть возвышенным
Anthem — гимн
Represent peace — символизировать мир
#Milingo_Reading