listening lab 2024
LISTENING LAB 1224
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. What century was Saint Nicholas born in?
2. Who did Saint Nicholas give gifts to?
3. What color were Father Christmas’s robes?
4. Was Thomas Nast called the “Father of American Political Cartoons”
or the “Father of American Holiday Cartoons”?
5. Did Nast always draw Santa wearing a red-and-white suit?
6. How many counties is Coca Cola advertised in?
•political cartoon = 政治漫画
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。
Santa’s Colorful Journey
by Claire Gorant
Christmas is right around the corner, but Santa is already here. Stores everywhere are decorated with images of the jolly old man dressed in his classic red-and-white coat, pants, and hat. Some people say Santa looks the way he does because of a Coca Cola ad campaign in the 1930s, but to find the real reason, let’s look a little further back in time.
Santa Claus might not be real (don’t tell the children!), but the character is based on a combination of two famous figures from far back in history. One is Saint Nicholas, a bishop born in Greece in the 4th century. He wore red robes and was famous for giving gifts to the poor, especially to children. Later, in the UK, he was combined with the local folk figure Father Christmas, who wore green robes and was associated with the joy and festivities of the winter festival season. So, where did Santa Claus get his red-and-white suit?
This is where Thomas Nast comes in. Called the “Father of the American Political Cartoon,” Nast drew countless pieces for newspapers and magazines during the mid to late 1800s. Santa was already a famous figure when, in 1881, Nast drew him in a number of different outfits — in a suit of stars and stripes, in an all-yellow suit, in a suit with a red jacket and a green hat, and in his now-famous red-and-white suit— for a popular magazine called Harper’s Weekly. The red-and-white suit is the one that stuck, and it has been imitated by artists ever since.
Fast forward to the 1930s, when Coca Cola (whose brand colors are red and white) used Santa in their own ads. At first, Coca Cola was known only as a summer drink, so the company used Santa’s image in order to make Coke a popular drink all year round. At that point, Coke was sold in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Now it is advertised in over 200 countries. So, while Coca Cola’s ad campaign certainly helped to make the image of Santa dressed all in red and white well known around the world, Thomas Nast gets the credit for popularizing the famous red-and-white suit.
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. What century was Saint Nicholas born in?
He was born in Greece.
2. Who did Saint Nicholas give gifts to?
He gave gifts to the poor, especially to poor children.
3. What color were Father Christmas’s robes?
They were green.
4. Was Thomas Nast called the “Father of American Political Cartoons”
or the “Father of American Holiday Cartoons”?
He was called the "Father of American Political Cartoons."
5. Did Nast always draw Santa wearing a red-and-white suit?
No, he didn't. He drew Santa in different suits.
6. How many counties is Coca Cola advertised in?
It's advertised in over 200 countries.
LISTENING LAB 1024
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. What did Hasumi notice about the train she was on?
2. Did she get advice from the conductor or people in an online forum?
3. What station did Hasumi tell her parents she had gotten off at?
4. What did Hasumi hear while she was walking along the train tracks?
5. According to the original posts, why did Hasumi want to get off the train?
6. What is the name of the movie that was based on these events?
•spooky = お化けが出そうな, 不気味な
• conductor = (列車などの)車掌
• unmanned = 無人の
• pay phone = 公衆電話
• give someone a ride = (車などに）人を乗せてあげる
• be dead = （携帯などの）電池などが切れた
• go viral = (インターネットで)急速に広まる
• ticket stub = 切符の半券
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。
A Spooky Tale on the Tracks
by Claire Gorant
You probably feel safe on trains in Japan. If so, you haven’t heard the story of Kisaragi Station. Late one night in 2004, a mysterious post was made on the internet forum 2channel. A user who went by “Hasumi” wrote that she was on her regular train home from work when she noticed that the train hadn’t stopped at any stations in a long time and all the other passengers were asleep. She even tried to speak to the conductor, but no one answered when she knocked on the conductor’s door.
Other people posting on the forum gave her advice, and she decided to get off the train when it finally stopped at a small, unmanned station called Kisaragi. It was in the middle of a forest, and because her phone battery was getting low, she decided to look for a pay phone so she could call her parents. But when she called them to ask for a ride home, they said there was no Kisaragi Station on any map. Internet users agreed, saying they could find no such station, and Hasumi started walking along the tracks, hoping to find a taxi. But there were no taxi’s anywhere—and no houses, either. Hasumi started to hear bells ringing from the direction of the station and strange voices in the woods. Finally, a kind-looking man appeared, but this is where the story becomes unclear. Some websites say that he was driving a car and offered to give her a ride. However, the original posts say that he called a train for them, and as they rode the train, the man began to say strange things. This scared Hasumi enough that she wrote on the forum that she would get off the train the next chance she had. Her phone was almost dead, and she said she’d post an update when she got home. She was never heard from again.
After this series of posts, the story of Kisaragi Station went viral. Enshu Railways, a private railway based in Shizuoka, even advertises one of their stations as the model for the story. That station, Saginomiya Station, has held several ad campaigns to take advantage of its sudden fame, including special events and limited-edition ticket stubs. There was even a movie based on the story, named, to no surprise, Kisaragi Station. So while riding the trains in Japan is usually quite safe, it might help to keep an extra phone charger with you, just in case.
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. . What did Hasumi notice about the train she was on?
It hadn't stopped at any stations in a long time and all the other passengers were asleep.
2. Did she get advice from the conductor or people in an online forum?
She got advice from people in an online forum.
3. What station did Hasumi tell her parents she had gotten off at?
She said she had gotten off at Kisaragi Station.
4. What did Hasumi hear while she was walking along the train tracks?
She heard hear bells ringing from the direction of the station and strange voices in the woods.
5. According to the original posts, why did Hasumi want to get off the train?
Because the man she was with began to say strange things.
6. What is the name of the movie that was based on these events?
It is Kisaragi Station.
LISTENING LAB 0824
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. What was the name of the first Japanese banknote* that could be used anywhere in the country?
2. Besides Japan, what two other countries helped in printing Japanese bills?
3. The first bill to include a portrait*was printed in 1881. Whose portrait was on it?
4. Which three banknotes were redesigned in 2024?
5. Which countries used a 3D hologram* stripe on their money before Japan?
• banknote/bank note = 紙幣, 銀行券
• portrait = 肖像画, 肖像写真, ポートレート
• hologram = ホログラム
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。
Japan's Banknotes
by Claire Gorant
It’s 2024, and Japan’s redesigned bills have hit the market. Let’s take a look at the road that has led to these bills. Japan’s first paper money appeared in the early 1600s in the form of notes called the Yamada Hagaki, which were used only by merchants in the Ise region. By the end of the 1600s, many clans (called han) had their own paper currency called hansatsu that could only be used within their own territories. It wasn’t until 1868 that the Japanese government (the Daijokan or Grand Council of State) issued a banknote that could be used nationally. It was called the daijokan-satsu.
The daijokan-satsu didn’t remain the standard paper money for long. As it was printed using a very simple method, it was very easy to counterfeit. Only two years after the daijokan-satsu’s release came the New Note, or German Note, which was printed in Germany. Three years after that, in 1873, an American company was selected to print the next bill design. It was around this time that Japan began using the yen instead of the older currency called the ryo. By the end of the 1870s, Japan was producing paper money domestically again, and 1881 saw the release of the first bill that included a portrait. This portrait was of Empress Jingu, who is said to have lived nearly 1,600 years ago. Paper currency in Japan went through many changes in size, color, and portraits over the years, with the largest bill a whopping 21 x 13 centimeters, and the smallest a mere 9.4 x 4.8 centimeters.
That brings us to the present day, and the newest update to Japan’s paper money. On July 3rd, 2024, the redesigned 1,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 10,000-yen banknotes were released. The 10,000-yen bill features the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, who founded around 500 companies during his lifetime and is known as the “pioneer of modern Japanese society”. The 5,000-yen bill carries the portrait of Umeko Tsuda, who dedicated her life to education and improving the status of women. The 1,000-yen bill features Shibasaburo Kitasato, a scientist who developed treatments for diseases, including tetanus. These new bills are printed using several new anti-counterfeiting technologies, including a special kind of thick ink for the numbers and a high-definition watermark. But perhaps the most exciting new feature is a 3D hologram stripe, never used before on banknotes anywhere in the world. What kind of technology will we see put to use in the next designs?
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. What was the name of the first Japanese banknote* that could be used anywhere in the country?
It was the daijokan-satsu.
2. Besides Japan, what two other countries helped in printing Japanese bills?
Germany and America did.
3. The first bill to include a portrait*was printed in 1881. Whose portrait was on it?
Empress Jingu's portrait was on it.
4. Which three banknotes were redesigned in 2024?
The 1,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 10,000-yen banknotes were redesigned.
5. Which countries used a 3D hologram* stripe on their money before Japan?
No other country did. Japan was the first country to use them.
LISTENING LAB 0624
Step 1: Read the questions below.
質問を読んでください。
1. What is the name of the main fault line under Japan?
2. Before the Namazu, which creature was believed to cause earthquakes?
3. Where do catfish live?
4. How did the god Kashima stop the Namazu?
5. When did the Namazu become associated with greedy people?
6. What other creatures do some people believe are to blame for earthquakes?
• seismically active = 地震活動が活発である
• fault line = 磁極
• tectonic plate = 構造プレート
• presto = 何と = ta-da, voila
• the blame = 責任, とがめ
• catfish =ナマズ
• after all = だって ... / ... なんだから
• pin = 押さえつける
• distracted = 気を散らされた
• wiggle A = Aをくねくね動かす
• greed = 貪欲
• be blamed for A = Aの責任がある
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 Fish That Shook the Earth
by Claire Gorant
Japan is no stranger to earthquakes. In fact, over 1,500 earthquakes occur every year in Japan, most of which are too mild to be felt. This makes Japan one of the most seismically active* countries in the world. But why is that? Nowadays, we know the science behind earthquakes. Japan lies along a major fault line*, called the Median Tectonic Line, where four tectonic plates* meet — the Philippine Sea, Eurasian, Pacific, and North American plates. These tectonic plates move and bump against each other, and presto*! An earthquake. But a long time ago, how did people explain it? Every culture had its own ideas. In China, dragons were thought to be the main cause, and that idea spread throughout Asia, including to Japan. However, in the 18th century, the blame went to* a different animal — the Namazu, or The Giant Catfish*.
Unlike dragons, catfish are real animals. In fact, catfish species are currently found on every continent except Antarctica (though they lived there in the past). They also have a huge range of sizes — some species are just a centimeter long, while the largest are over two meters. One catfish caught in Thailand in 2005 weighed almost 300 kilograms. But the fish that caused Japan’s earthquakes was much larger. Found in art as early as the 15th century, the Namazu was a river god associated with natural disasters, such as floods and heavy rain. In the beginning, people said he actually warned that danger was coming and would eat water dragons to stop further disasters. But during the Tokugawa period, the image of the Namazu changed, and people became convinced this giant fish itself was the one causing the disasters.
Now that the Namazu was a bad guy, there needed to be a way to stop him. After all*, earthquakes didn’t happen all the time. What was keeping the Namazu from shaking the ground nonstop? Enter the god named Kashima. Using a giant stone, Kashima pinned* the Namazu to the bottom of the ocean, stopping the earthquakes. Well, mostly stopping them. Sometimes, when Kashima was tired or distracted*, the Namazu was able to wiggle* its tail a bit. And in the 19th century, after the 1855 Edo earthquake (in what is now Tokyo), the image of the Namazu changed again. Both rich and poor people could lose everything in an earthquake, making everyone equal. Thus, the Namazu became a symbol of punishment of greed*. In later years, the image of the Namazu was used to make fun of politicians who were slow to help after a disaster. Over the years, many creatures have been blamed for* earthquakes — dragons, eels, giant beetles, and the Namazu. Now, movies tell us King Kong deep down in the center of the earth is to blame. What creature will we imagine next?
Step 4: Check your answers.
答えをチェックしてください。
1. What is the name of the main fault line under Japan?
It's the Median Tectonic Line.
2. Before the Namazu, which creature was believed to cause earthquakes?
Dragons were believed to cause earthquakes.
3. Where do catfish live?
They live on every continent except Antarctica.
4. How did the god Kashima stop the Namazu?
Kashima pinned the Namazu to the bottom of the ocean.
5. When did the Namazu become associated with greedy people?
It became associated with greedy people after the 1855 Edo earthquake.
6. What other creatures do some people believe are to blame for earthquakes?
Some people believe eels, giant beetles and even King Kong are to blame.
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.