listening lab 2024
LISTENING LAB 0424
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. How often do the sun’s magnetic poles* flip their charge*?
2. When did the sun’s last pole reversal* occur?
3. Is the sun the only body in our solar system with a magnetic field*?
4. During the solar cycle, what happens when the sun’s magnetic field reaches zero?
5. Between which latitudes* do the Northern Lights* usually appear?
6. How do scientists observe changes in the sun?
• magnetic poles = 磁極
• charge = 磁荷
• pole reversal =磁極の逆転
• magnetic field = 磁場
• latitudes = 緯度
• the Northern Lights = 北極光, オーロラ
Step 2: Listen to the audio and try to answer the questions.
オーディオを聞いて、 質問に答えて見て下さい。
Step 3: Listen again while you read the article.
記事を読みながら、もう一度聞いてみてください。
The Sun Is About to Flip
by Claire Gorant
The sun is about to experience a huge transformation: the flipping of its magnetic poles. This phenomenon happens about every eleven years, with the last reversal happening in 2013. Scientists expect this newest flip to occur between April and August of this year. Imagine a battery: one end has a positive charge, and the other a negative charge. The sun (and the earth as well!) is the same. But unlike in a battery, in the sun those charges can change.
This magnetic pole reversal is a natural process for the sun. It is driven by solar cycles, the moving electric currents inside the sun’s core that create magnetic fields. These solar cycles cause the sun's magnetic fields to reorganize at the peak of each solar cycle. During this reversal, the sun's polar magnetic fields weaken, and solar activity, such as sunspots and solar storms, slowly decreases. Once the magnetic fields reach zero, the poles flip, then come back with the opposite charge — the positive pole becomes negative, and the negative pole switches to positive. After the flip, the sun’s magnetic field grows stronger again. A stronger field may bring more powerful solar storms. It may also lead to lower latitude Northern Lights. Usually, the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, can be seen between 60 degrees and 75 degrees latitude, but while the sun’s poles are reversing, the Northern Lights may be seen as far south as 50 degrees.
The earth has a magnetic field too, and it protects us from most of these solar storms, but they can still impact technology, such as satellite communication and GPS systems. However, experts say that there's no need to panic, as these regular polar flips are natural for the sun. Scientists closely monitor these changes using solar telescopes. These observations help predict the strength and behavior of future solar cycles, providing valuable information on space weather and its possible effects not only on our planet but also on our satellites and astronauts in space.
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. How often do the sun’s magnetic poles flip their charge?
They flip their charge every eleven years.
2. When did the sun’s last pole reversal occur?
It occurred in 2013.
3. Is the sun the only body in our solar system with a magnetic field?
No, it isn't.
4. During the solar cycle, what happens when the sun’s magnetic field reaches zero?
The poles flip.
5. Between which latitudes do the Northern Lights usually appear?
They usually appear between 60 and 70 degrees latitude.
6. How do scientists observe changes in the sun?
They observe them using solar telescopes.
LISTENING LAB 0224
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. How many people die due to superbugs in the US every year?
2. What kind of bacteria can turn into a superbug?
3. What is one way in which people misuse antibiotics?
4. What is one thing that can increase your risk of developing a superbug?
5. What are doctors worried about?
6. What is one example of a situation in which antibiotics are absolutely necessary?
Step 2: Listen to the audio and try to answer the questions.
オーディオを聞いて、 質問に答えて見て下さい。
Step 3: Listen again while you read the article.
記事を読みながら、もう一度聞いてみてください。
Superbugs
by Kathy
The term "superbug" is in the news a lot these days. That's because, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 2 million people get sick from superbugs and about 23,000 die from them in the US every year. Hearing that, many people might imagine that a superbug is some kind of new monster bacteria that is so powerful it can kill us. But that's not really what a superbug is. In fact, there is no clear definition of "superbug," because it's not a technical term used by doctors, but basically it is a bacteria that has become resistant to one or more of the drugs usually used to treat it. And what many people don't understand is that any species of bacteria can turn into a superbug.
How does this happen? The CDC says that misusing antibiotics is the main factor that causes superbugs to develop. One form of misuse is taking antibiotics when you don't need them. Doctors report that patients often ask for antibiotics when they are not needed or when they are not even effective, like when someone has a cold or a viral sinus infection. Another form of misuse is not finishing the full prescription. Patients themselves report that they often stop taking their antibiotics when they begin to feel better. We need to stop this misuse.
So, who is at risk of a superbug infection? Everyone, but some people are more at risk than others. For instance, the more antibiotics you’ve taken in your lifetime, the higher your superbug risk is. And people who frequently spend time in the hospital have a much higher superbug risk.
Doctors are extremely worried that eventually they will run out of antibiotics to treat these superbugs. And without antibiotics, doctors will be unable to do even basic things to help their patients. These drugs prevent infection whenever someone has surgery, for example, and they are essential for everything from chemotherapy for cancer to organ transplants to giving birth in order to prevent infection. If antibiotics become ineffective, we will lose the medical advances we have made in the last 50 years..
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. How many people died due to superbugs in the US every year?
About 23,000 people die every year.
2. What kind of bacteria can turn into a superbug?
Any kind of bacteria can turn into a spuperbug.
3. What is one way in which people misuse antibiotics?
People take antibiotics when they are not needed.
or
People stop taking their antibiotics before the prescription runs out.
4. What is one thing that can increase your risk of developing a superbug?
Taking antibiotics many times in your life ca increase your risk.
or
Frequently spending time in a hospital can increase your risk.
5. What are doctors worried about?
They are worried that they will run out of antibiotics that can treat superbugs.
6. What is one example of a situation in which antibiotics are absolutely necessary?
Antibiotics are necessary patients have surgery.
or
Antibiotics are necessary when patients have chemotherapy treatments.
or
Antibiotics are necessary patients receive transplants.
or
Antibiotics are necessary when mothers give birth.