Many countries at the COP26 climate change conference are making promises to help Earth. They have signed agreements to end deforestation and cut methane emission levels by 30 per cent by 2030. Bosses of global companies are also at COP26. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, made a speech on Tuesday. He promised to give $2 billion to help nature. He said the money would restore landscapes to their more natural state. He also wants to transform food systems to make food production more sustainable. Mr Bezos also set up The Bezos Earth Fund in 2020. This is a $10-billion project to help fight climate change. In September, this fund gave $1 billion to help threatened indigenous peoples.
自分は絵が描けないと思っている人は実に多いのですが、それはなぜでしょう？ 私たちはいつから、そう信じ込むようになってしまったのでしょう？ グレアム・ショーはとても実践的なやり方で、この幻想を文字どおり打ち砕きます。「描く」という単純な行為のもつ力が、いかに世界を良い方向に変えるかを、彼は示します。 グレアムはコミュニケーション技法の専門家で、重要なプレゼンテーションを行う何千人もの人々を手助けしてきました。マンガをさっと描きながらアイデアを伝える手法で彼を知ったという人が、おそらく一番多いでしょう。『The Art of Business Communication（ビジネス・コミュニケーションの技法）』の著者でもあります。 このビデオはTEDカンファレンスとは独立して運営されるTEDxイベントにおいて収録されたものです。
近い将来、世界のトップシェフは木で作られたナイフを使用する可能性があります。 これはやや直感に反するように思えるかもしれませんが、材料科学者は、夕食に使用するステンレス鋼のナイフよりも3倍鋭い木製のナイフを作成しました。 科学者は米国のメリーランド大学の出身です。 Teng Li研究員は、木製のナイフは、現在世界中のキッチンで見られるさまざまな木製の道具を補完すると述べました。 彼は次のように述べています。「私たちのキッチンには、まな板、箸、めん棒など、非常に長い間使用している木製のものがたくさんあります。これらの新しいナイフは、表面を塗り直したり、研いだりすると、何度も使用できます。 同じ定期的な維持管理を実行します。」
In the near future, the world’s top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem somewhat counter-intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement the assortment of wooden utensils currently found in kitchens across the world. He said: “In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a rolling pin. These new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular upkeep.”
STEP 1 | Reading 読解| Read the following passage about a campus situation.
Seniors Eligible to Teach Freshman Classes
Central University is beginning a new program in the fall semester Eligible seniors may now co-teach certain classes alongside a professor in their department. Students must have a 3.5 GPA both overall and in their major to qualify as teachers. This program should be of particular interest to students considering pursuing teaching careers-although that is not a requisite to become an instructor. Student-teachers will need to prepare lesson plans and make themselves available for office hours for their students as well. Inquire at the Student Services Office for more information.
STEP 2 | Comprehending 読解力テスト | Answer the following questions to make sure you understand the reading
1 What is the topic of the notice?
2 How can a student become eligible for this program?
3 What kind of GPA does a student need to participate in the program?
4 Which students in particular may be interested in this program?
5 What will students accepted to the program have to do?
1 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
2 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
3 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
4 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
5 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Comprehending 解答例
1. The topic of the notice is a new student-teaching program that the university has decided to create.
2. Students who are excelling academically both in their majors and overall may participate in the program.
3. Students must have GPAs of at least 3.5 in their major and overall in order to qualify as teachers.
4. Students considering teaching careers may be particularly interested in the program.
5. Students will have to turn in lesson plans and conduct office hours, which will give them valuable teaching experience.
▮ Listen
STEP 3 | Listening & Note Taking | Listen to a conversation on the same topic, and take notes.
スクリプト
W: What a silly idea! I can’t believe the school is
entertaining the notion of letting students teach classes.
M: It sounds intriguing to me.
W: You think so?
M: Why not? First, like the announcement says, it would be a great way to get some teaching experience. Think about it. .. It’d look great on an application to graduate school. It might help some students get accepted.
W: Okay, that’s good for the student-teacher, but what about the students taking the classes? I can tell you this … I wouldn’t want a student teaching my class. The student wouldn’t have nearly as much knowledge as a real professor.
M: Well, there is the prospect of that, but the student will just be co-teaching, so I’m not terribly concerned. Anyway, you know, I like the part about the student keeping office hours.
W: Because?
M: My professors are always busy and often don’t have time to chat. It’d be easier and, frankly, more comfortable, going to a student to ask my questions. It’s not like my questions are so difficult that an upperclassman wouldn’t be able to answer them.
The man expresses his opinion of the co-teaching program the university is creating. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
STEP 4 | Organizing 解答の組み立て | Ask yourself the following questions and organize your ideas.
1 What is the man’s opinion of the new co-teaching program?
2 What does he think a result of the program will be?
3 In what way will that help the students in the future?
4 What does he feel about the student-teachers having to keep office hours?
5 How does he compare the time professors have to the time students have?
1. In the man’s mind, the program is a good idea and is worth supporting.
2. First, he thinks that doing student-teaching will benefit the students in the program.
3. He feels that putting it on their resumes will look good when they apply to graduate schools and might even help some of them get accepted.
4. Another reason is that he is encouraged by the fact that the student-teachers would have to keep office hours.
5. He mentions that most of his professors have no time , to chat, but he thinks students would.
▮ Speak
STEP 5 | Speaking 解答| Now say your response out loud, and record your time. While you are speaking, do not look at the written response.
Response time 45 seconds Your speaking time seconds
STEP 6 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
Sample Response 模範解答
The topic of the notice is a new student-teaching program the university has decided to create. In the man’s mind, the program is a good idea and is worth supporting. He cites a couple of reasons to defend his opinion. First, he thinks that doing student-teaching will benefit the students in the program. He feels that putting it on their resumes will look good when they apply to graduate schools and might even help some of them get accepted. Another reason is that he’s encouraged by the fact that the student-teachers would have to keep office hours. He believes students having office hours is better than professors having them. He mentions that most of his professors have no time to chat, but he thinks students would. Also, most of his questions could be answered by upperclassmen, so he wouldn’t have to bother his professors so much.
STEP 7 自己採点
Delivery
1 How clearly did you speak your response?
Language Use
2 How well did you control language structures to convey your ideas?
3 How appropriately did you use vocabulary to convey your ideas?
The rapper Kanye West has changed his name to Ye. Judges in California approved his request for the name change. Kanye Omari West is the name that appeared on his birth certificate. However, the artist now has a new, shorter name. Ye, 44, has no legal middle name or surname. He has wanted to change his name for a long time and finally, his wish is now reality. Three years ago, he announced that he was, “the being formerly known as Kanye West”. Ye did not give any reasons for his name change. He said it was for “personal reasons” but did not offer any more explanations. The rapper has had the nickname Ye for a long time. It is even the name of his eighth studio album
