A Fresh Idea (with Japanese Dictionary)
The Northwest Territories of Canada are known for their long, cold winters and short summers. In such conditions, growing fruits and vegetables is very difficult. The native Inuit people in those areas traditionally survived by fishing, hunting seals, and gathering small plants to eat. Nowadays, global warming has greatly limited their traditional food supply. Most Inuit communities now ( 21 ) instead. However, these communities are far from farms and can only be accessed by airplane. This results in high shipping costs, which makes the food in stores very expensive.
Due to these challenges, many Inuit ( 22 ) that they need for a healthy diet. Many grocery stores offer mostly foods that do not go bad easily, which means people do not have access to a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables. One solution is to build greenhouses, which are made of glass or plastic, to provide a warm indoor area where plants can grow. The town of Inuvik is one of the few communities in this region to have a greenhouse.
Since it was created about 20 years ago, the greenhouse has helped the Inuvik natives to deal with their shortage of fresh food. Nevertheless, there have been difficulties with starting new greenhouses in other Inuit communities. ( 23 ), the attitude of the local people towards these greenhouses is not always good. Because gardening has never been a part of Inuit culture, some communities have no interest in greenhouses. Because of this, more needs to be done to help educate Inuit towns about the benefits of greenhouses.
Cleaner Air (with Japanese Dictionary)
Air pollution in urban areas is a big problem, especially since over half of the world’s population lives in cities. According to the European Environment Agency, it is one of the ( 24 ) for people living in cities. For instance, breathing polluted air on a regular basis can eventually result in lung diseases or cancers. That is why cities around the world are looking for ways to reduce pollution.
One idea that has been popular in countries across the world is planting trees. In particular, many trees have been planted ( 25 ). The idea is that chemicals that are released by the cars driving down the roads will be absorbed by the leaves of trees above them. It is believed that this, in turn, will improve the air quality for the people living, walking, and cycling near these streets.
However, research done by scientists at the University of Surrey in England has suggested that trees may not be the best option. The researchers tested how well different kinds of plants affected the air on six different roadways. They discovered that hedges short, woody plants with many leaves are more effective at reducing air pollution along narrow, busy roads. This is because hedges stand at the same “breathing height” as pedestrians and cyclists. ( 26 ), the leaves on trees are too high to protect people near the road from pollution caused by cars. This evidence shows that, although trees are still a good option along wider roads with few pedestrians, hedges offer a better solution in many city environments.
E-mail (with Japanese Dictionary)
From: Roger Taylor ＜r-taylor2@westin.edu＞
To: All students ＜allstudents@westin.edu＞
Subject: Student center dining services
____________________________________________________________________________________
As the general manager of student dining services, I have a few announcements to make. There will be a few changes to our dining services this year, and we want to make sure that everyone understands them. Some of these changes will affect rules in all of the dining areas on campus, so please read this message carefully.
First, there will be some changes at the Westin Student Center. It will open an hour earlier on weekdays, so you will be able to use the lounge area from 7 a.m. Please be aware, however, that restaurants inside the building will keep their current hours. A new café will also be opening in the student center, and they are looking for part-time workers. To apply, please contact Jerry Conwell at 1-555-526-6248.
We will also have a new rule on campus regarding peanuts and other nuts. Since many of our students have allergies, restaurants and cafeterias on campus will not be allowed to serve foods containing them. We ask that students do not bring any foods containing nuts into these areas. If you are not sure about an item, please leave it at home. This is to make sure that all students at the university are safe.
Roger Taylor
Student Dining Services General Manager
Not Only a Writer (with Japanese Dictionary)
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other children’s books by Beatrix Potter are popular around the world, both for their exciting stories and for their charming illustrations. Potter is also known for her work protecting the English countryside. This love of nature began in her childhood in the Lake District in England, where Potter spent much of her time drawing pictures of plants and animals. What many people do not know, however, is that Potter was also an excellent businesswoman.
In one way, this is not surprising because Potter came from a successful business family. Her grandfather and father were wealthy businessmen, and Potter learned much from them. Her family’s wealth also meant that she had much time to observe nature and play with her many pets. Then, as an adult, she began to use these experiences to create illustrated stories about animals for the children of her friends. Her friends suggested to her that she publish these stories as books.
She sent her first book to various publishers, but none of them were interested in publishing it. Unlike the publishers, Potter felt certain that the book would be a success, so in 1901, she paid one publisher to print copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Because of costs, this first version was in black and white. The book was quickly sold out, so the publisher decided to publish a color version. This became a bestseller, and the publisher made a lot of money from that book and the other 22 books written later.
Potter’s sense of business, though, was shown in the way she created and sold goods related to the books. After publishing the first book, she made a doll of Peter Rabbit and patented* it. This was the first time a character from a book had been patented. She then went on to develop dolls, games, dishes, and other products. Today, we are used to seeing toys and products connected with characters from books for sale. Peter Rabbit, though, was the first of these. The methods Potter developed to make a successful business out of her children’s books are the ones that are often used by entertainment businesses today.
The Impact of the Vikings
The Vikings were a group of people from Scandinavia the area where Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are now located. They lived around the 9th to 11th centuries. The traditional image of the Vikings is that they were warriors who attacked communities, killed people, and stole their wealth. Although some did such things, modern research has shown that they were much more than just violent robbers. They had a rich culture of their own which had a wide influence in Europe.
Not all Vikings were warriors. Many were actually farmers and traders. They were unusually good at building boats, some of which still exist today, and they could sail long distances at great speed. The Vikings became successful explorers, traveling to North America and establishing villages there. They were also able to create new trade routes, not only throughout Europe and the Middle East, but also as far as India and China. The Vikings were the first Europeans to travel to many of these places.
The Vikings settled down in many of the places they traded with. Large Viking communities were established in Ireland, Britain, and France. Archaeological studies of the towns and villages where they lived have shown their advanced skills in many aspects of civilization. They were skilled architects, for example, and built many large houses. They were also experts at making cloth and weapons. Contrary to their violent image, they actually shared their knowledge with the people already living in those areas.
The Vikings also had a complicated religion and mythology. We know a lot about this from literature telling of their history and the adventures of their heroes. Their religion consisted of many different gods to whom they sacrificed animals. Although the Vikings eventually became Christians, some parts of their religion can still be found in modern cultures. For example, the names for the days of the week Thursday and Friday in English and Swedish come from the names of Viking gods. Also, many scholars believe that Christmas trees were originally trees used in Viking rituals. According to many modern scholars, we should change our image of the Vikings to a more positive one.
